SEVILLA CRICKET CLUB PLAY THEIR INAUGURAL GAME
Sunday 19th June 2011
New Cartama Oval
Sevilla Cricket Club 164 all out beat the New Local Cricket Club 150 all out by 14 runs.
Newly formed Sevilla CC, as yet lacking a home ground, descended on the Costa Del Sol on Saturday for a quiet night in Torremolinos (well, that was their story anyway) before moving on to the New Cartama Oval on Sunday for their inaugural match, which proved to be hugely enjoyable and a great advertisement for the game of cricket.
Batting first in this 35 overs per side match Sevilla made a decent start, reaching 25 by the end of the first four overs. Unfortunately that over ended with the loss of their first wicket, Colin LBW to Phil. The onlooker might have been forgiven for doubting the quiet night story during the next four overs as Phil and Rayeez grabbbed three more wickets leaving Sevilla reeling on 32 for 4 off 8 overs. This brought Jason and Andrew together at the wicket and they were determined to stay there. Stay there they did for 12 overs while they defied the local bowling to take the score on to 102 before Andrew was bowled by Nick. Their partnership of 70 was the highlight of Sevilla’s innings.
Jason was far from finished though and saw three more partners come and go including a partnership of 34 with Tom before he departed, bowled by an unplayable delivery from Rayeez for 56 in the 33rd over. No fewer than 130 runs were added while he was at the wicket. Best batting 56 by Jason. Best bowling 6 overs 3 wickets for 23 runs by Phil Nuttal.
After the interval the home club started badly with Tony walking after the faintest of snicks to the keeper to leave the score on none for 1 off 1 over. This became 2 for 2 of 2 overs when Imthias was saved from being plumb LBW only by the ball passing between his legs to bowl him out. Time then for a rescue act.
Step forward Peter and Rayeez who remained together for 15 overs putting on 72 runs between them before departing within two overs of each other. 79 for 4 then off 18 overs and 20 runs fewer than Sevilla at the same stage.
Phil Flaxman came to the wicket in determined fashion and when he was joined by Nick things seemed on the up for the new local club. After 23 overs they were up to the same score as Sevilla were at the same stage and if not cruising at least in a very strong position for a win. After 29 overs just 26 runs were needed for victory at a little over 4 runs per over with four wickets remaining
All was looking good for the home side – the wires were surely being loosed around the corks in the bottles of celebratory bubbly. But a couple of inches changed all that. Nick set off for a quick single but Shane’s throw removed the bails with Nick’s bat fractionally short of the popping crease. Next ball and Stuart’s middle stump was knocked over. Jody and Deen crept along for three overs for just three runs before Jody went LBW to Jason .
Next over Mike played on to delivery outside the off stump from Andrew and it was all over. The journey home for Sevilla was to be a joyous one. Best Batting 36 by Rayeez. Best bowling 6 overs 4 wickets for 22 by Andrew.
My man of the match – a tricky choice between Rayeez for the home side and Andrew or Jason for the visitors. The award goes to Jason who was the bastion of his side’s innings, scoring 56 over 28 overs and following this up with excellent fielding and two spells of bowling for an aggregate of 6 overs 2 wickets for 23 runs.
Ray Fry