With four matches over the course of the weekend against Sporting Alfas and the Intellectuals to contend with, Levante Cricket Club were looking for maximum points from all games to gain a stranglehold on the league.
However, the team from Alfas had other ideas and took the first points on offer with an exciting eight wicket victory over the hosts in game one. Batting first, Levante accrued a total of 187 for 6 off their twenty overs. Opener Hafiz hit a fine 75 and Faiz Butt played a nice central role in the middle of the innings, by adding 43 to his sides total. For the visitors Basharat took all three wickets for the bowlers. The other three dismissals came in the shape of run outs, thanks in part to good fielding by Alfas, and some bad judgement calls by the Levante batsmen.
Alfas overtook the Levante total in the fifteenth over, and this was mainly due to a fantastic century by the Spanish international Faran Afzal. He was out just before the end of the match, but by then the game was won and Alfas had drawn first blood in the two game series.
Game two was the match of the day with both sides looking like winning at various stages through the contest. Levante batted first again and did well to post a score of 209 for 6. Furqhan in the middle order was once again in the runs, scoring 63 of his teams total. Tariq with 56 runs was another major contributor for the hosts. Kyle Roper was outstanding with the ball for Alfas taking three wickets for just 24 runs.
In reply, Alfas looked to be on track to overtake the Levante total, but finally ran out of overs despite having wickets in hand. Christian Munoz Mills scored 82 not out, but the Alfas innings lacked the required impetus at the end to turn a close defeat into victory.
With the series tied, the league remains tightly grouped with Intellectuals and Madrid yet to start their league campaigns. With Intellectuals heading to Valencia tomorrow and Madrid having four games against Alfas next week it is still all to play for all five teams in this years competition.
Match One – Sporting Alfas 189 for 2 beat Levante 187 for 6 by eight wickets.
Match Two – Levante 209 for 6 beat Alfas 200 for 6 by nine runs.