Santa Coloma have become the new champions of Spain after beating Sporting Alfas in a hotly contested final.
With the Southern region unable to field a team in the tournament finals three teams were left to fight for the prize of the National Champions of Spain.
Santa Coloma represented the Cataluyna region, St George’s came over from Lanzarote and Sporting Alfas represented the ECCL.
Director of Cricket Neil Brook hastily re-arranged the format and a T20 round robin took place on the Saturday to decide who would contest the final on the Sunday. Santa Columba won both their games and SACC beat St. Georges.
In the final SACC won the toss and elected to bat. At 28 for 4 after the power play and 53 for 5 at the half way stage in a 40 over game, skipper Ben Fletcher may have been thinking whether he had made the right decision.
SACC limped along against clever Santa Columba bowling and energetic fielding. The needless run out of Gary Compton who had started to gain momentum with Shazad did not help the SACC cause. Then, after Shazad had holed out at long off, a late rally from Laundon and Roper saw the innings through to the end closing on 137 for 7.
At the interval an excellent chicken curry courtesy of Cricket Espana and supplied by Gopi Singh’s Flavours Restaurant of Los Alcazares was enjoyed by all the players, officials and spectators.
Needing 138 to win, Santa Columba got off to the worst possible start when Muhammed Babar, who had scored 180 runs in two knocks the day before, was caught behind off Jamie Roper’s first ball. From then on it was slow progress out in the middle thanks to some excellent, tight bowling from Roper and Laundon and continued by Taylor and Shazad.
Wickets fell in the 12th and 20th over. At drinks the scoreboard showed 65 for 3. A brace of wickets in the 22nd over left Santa Columba on 67 for 5 and needing another 70 runs to win. The score stuttered along and gave SACC hope that Santa Columba might fall short.
The introduction of Crompton and Pennick and a couple of dropped chances enabled Santa Columba to a 3 wicket victory with 3 overs to spare.
It was an interesting game, a typical low scoring affair that gave both teams a sniff of victory. The game was played in excellent spirit throughout in front of a small but vociferous crowd which included the previous day’s casualties St Georges of Lanzarote who, with a private supply of refreshments, did credit to their sponsor, The Inn Place.
Many thanks to all the players and officials for ensuring the event was enjoyable for all and special thanks to Ron Graham for the match report on the final between Santa Coloma and Sporting Alfas.
