PINATAR PIRATES V MADRID II CC (LEAGUE)

Pinatar Pirates continued their fine start to the season with a win over Madrid II but they were made to fight all the way by the team from the capital.

The visitors batted first and scored 158 for 9 off their overs. A fourth wicket partnership of 66 from Sengupta and Reo was the backbone of the Madrid innings whilst six of the eight bowlers from Pinatar picked up at least one wicket.

The Pinatar effort was hindered by a double injury to Harmit Phull, who after pulling an hamstring, then required a trip to the local hospital for stitching on his hand after the webbing was split fielding a ball.

Madrid looked to have defended the total as Pinatar struggled to 139 for the loss of eight wickets. Moving up the order, and telling skipper George Wambeek to stay in the pavillion, Phull came to the crease with just one batting glove on. He steered his team home and to maximum points with a gutsy 8 not out, as Madrid failed to find the final two wickets they needed to claim victory.

Madrid returned home from their first trip to Pinatar with mixed results, having beaten Almanzora the day before, whilst Pinatar in their inuagural season, are begining to look like serious contenders for promotion in their first league campaign.

CRICKET ESPANA

Pinatar Pirates Report on the game.

Sunday 31st May Pinatar Pirates CC played Madrid 2nds in a league fixture at the Pinatar Arena. Madrid were on a high after comprehensively beating Almanzora the day before this match.

Wining the toss, Pinatar Pirates decided to field first. With two wickets down and not a lot of runs on the board they were looking good until the gods decided to play a part on the match. H. Phull bowling well and in his 3rd over felt his hamstring pull. Deciding to try and play through the twinge, the next ball was hit straight back at him, and the good stop had consequences, he had split the webbing on his right hand.

Head down, he limped of the field leaving a trail of blood behind him to go get the hand seen to.
Pinatar continued to work hard and made effective use of eight bowlers restricting Madrid from scoring a huge total. The bowlers however were not always supported by the fielders and dropped catches allowed R Sengupta (46) and R Rao (36) to get Madrid to a respectable total of 158 for 9 of their 40 overs.

Pinatar made a poor start losing Gopi Singh early playing a lose shot. But then steady batting from in form Akash Panchal and Bittu Singh put Pinatar back on track searching for their first win in the league campaign. However, as often happens in this game, once a team loses one wicket, others tumble with a domino effect and with A Sarangpani (4-46) producing a great spell of bowling Madrid were back in it and the players responded with some fantastic fielding, and when V Medina took a superb catch to take out the danger man B Singh for 66, it was game on!!!

That catch should have won Madrid the match, but catches don’t just win you matches, but could lose them to. And luck today was on Pinatar side as Madrid dropped some routine catches which cost them dear. Remember poor old H Phull, well with tension running high and Madrid still looking for the win he returned from hospital with hand stitched up and leg bandaged, he hobbled to the crease with 8 wickets down and Pirates still needing 6 to win.

Four balls later the war hero, 8 not out, walked off the pitch to a relieved Pinatar team, they had won there first league game, finishing on 162 for 8. Who said cricket was not exciting, Pinatar would like to thank Madrid for their commitment to cricket after travelling and spending a weekend away from home and for the part they played in this very sporting and nail biting game.

Pinatar Pirates CC would like to thank its sponsors Elliot Davis UK and Gopi Singh of The Curry Leaf Restaurant in Alcázares  for their continued support.

For any enquiries or anyone wishing to join this new growing friendly club you can contact Pirates (PPCC) through facebook, or on 610006783 or 667434504.

HARMIT PHULL – PINATAR PIRATES . 

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