Menorca v Mallorca Sunday 20th September
A welcome game of competitive cricket in what has been a write off of a season. So sad to have a succession of emails from our prospective visitors all with the same theme. We live in hope and on behalf of the club I’d like to wish everyone well who was due here this summer.
There’s always a competitive edge to this game as we locked horns with our old foe and most direct Balearic neighbours. Great to see a unified Mallorca side having ironed out some internal issues and joined forces with the Palma boys.
Stand in skipper Nick Roussel duly won the toss and elected to post a total. Pavan Nerella trusted with the new ball alongside Ali Suntari. Openers Hagger and Sturgeon got Menorca off to a steady yet cautious start. The timing a little difficult initially with no regular matches played is understandable, coupled with a new playing surface also making things difficult.
Sturgeon (20) through his shot caught off the back of the bat by the keeper batted well. Hagger started to work his way through the gears and anchored the innings superbly as a procession of partners came and went only gloveman Tysoe made double figures but by that time Hagger had well and truly cut loose. He reached three figures with a superb premeditated on drive. He fell in the penultimate over for a spectacular 119. Menorca posting 230/9.
The Mallorca reply got off to a stinker Nizamol Hossan picking up two wickets in his first over. This brought talisman Ben Vickers to the crease, the scourge of Menorca with both bat and ball for many years. Once again the lack of practice stood out, he hit two fours before slapping a half volley from Cotton straight to Akter Hussain at mid off he took a superb catch low to his right. A game changing moment to dismiss Vickers early.
There was a 50 run partnership between Ali (35) and Dev (35) that looked menacing as both cleared the ropes on a few occasions. It wasn´t to be as the locals were on fire in the field Adam Cockroft with three catches, one of which was a screamer on the run. The wickets continued to fall and springbok Wes Walker was desperately unlucky to be run out at the non strikers end, the ball flicking Hagger´s finger having been driven straight back at him leaving Proteas Walker stranded. There was a late flurry of runs from Latoo(23) and Tom(20*) but not enough to stop the chubby chic loosening her larynx in the 35th over. Mallorca finishing 174 all out.
A comfortable win in the end for the hosts, a fabulous hot sunny day and a smattering of spectators all making for a thoroughly agreeable afternoon at the home of Balearic cricket.
Jeffrey Barker – Menorca Cricket Club
