SPAIN NARROWLY BEATEN BY BROMSGROVE
Spain were narrowly beaten yesterday by a strong Bromsgrove side in their second match of the La Manga Junior Festival. Spain posted 178 and the Midlands outfit got home with four balls to spare. Bromsgrove won the toss and put the home side into bat after both teams agreed on 45 overs and that 12 players could bat. Spain got off to a disastrous start by losing both openers with only three on the board. 3 for 2 soon became 21 for 3 when Hersh was caught behind off Clegg for 1, and yet again it was left to Munoz and Garside to rescue the Spanish batting.
Munoz looked to be in good form, and Garside after a shaky start, which saw him dropped at slip off his second ball,also looked composed as they set about consolidating the Spanish innings.Munoz departed after scoring 26 but Garside was well supported by Seekings and Smith,as he completed his 50 off 35 balls in 63 minutes.
The middle order all made telling contributions and when Garside finally fell for 86 the Spanish score looked more respectable.His innings of 86 consisted of 14 fours and 3 sixes and he stayed at the crease for an hour and three quarters.It was left to Vine, Engleman, Harris and Sunderland to add vital runs to the Spanish score and at the end of the allocated 45 overs Spain had amassed 178 runs.
Bromsgrove did not fair much better in their innings start, with Strong and Dudley both back in the pavillion with the score on 27,coutesy of the bowling of Sunderland and fine slip catches by Seekings and Brook respectively. A third wicket partnership by Cowan and Brown swung the game back in Bromesgroves favour,,with Brown going on to make an excellent 54 that included seven fours.
The introduction of Seekings and spin led to the downfall of Brown,who was caught at point by Matt Smith,and when Vine took two wickets in a double wicket maiden Spanish hopes were raised once again. Bromsgrove established another good partnership for the 7th wicket between Millington and Symons who put on 42 and once again Bromsgrove looked favourites to win.
Strong bowling at the death by Garside and Sunderland kept Spain right in the game for the last over, but with Munoz injured it was left to Matt Smith to try and bowl a maiden over to secure victory. With all the fielders in Eastgate hit over the infield off Smiths second ball for the visitors to win with 4 balls to spare. Spains effort and fielding could not be faulted, and led by the infectious enthuisiasm of Roper the home side very nearly pulled off an unlikely victory.
SPAIN
J Brook Ct Hadley Bowled Clegg 1
C Johnston Ct Millington Bowled Wyers 2
C Munoz Bowled Cox 26
J Hersh Ct Wilkinson Bowled Clegg
M Garside Ct Cox Bowled Webb 86
M Smith Lbw Hadley 10
B Seekings Bowled Hadley 1
A Daley Bowled Morris 11
T Vine Bowled Cox 10
R Engleman Bowled Webb 4
A Harris Not Out 5
J Sunderland Not Out 1
Extras 20 Total Score 178 for 10 wickets
FOW 1-3, 2-3, 3-21, 4-40, 5-100, 6-105, 7-153, 8-163, 9-166, 10-172.
BOWLING
M Wyers 4-0-9-1
A Clegg 5-0-24-2
M Cox 6-1-22-2
S Clare 1-0-26-0
J Dudley 6-2-10-0
R Hadley 9-2-43-2
A Morris 7-1-20-1
J Webb 7-1-22-2
BROMSGROVE
Cowan Ct Munoz Bowled Vine 26
Strong Ct Seekings Bowled Sunderland 5
Dudley Ct Brook Bowled Sunderland 9
Brown Ct Smith Bowled Seekings 54
Webb Lbw Vine 20
Wyers Bowled Vine 0
Symonds Bowled Garside 20
Millington Lbw Garside 28
Eastgate Not Out 6
Morris Not Out 0
Hadley Dnb
Clare Dnb
Extras 17 Total 181 for 8 wickets
FOW 1-2, 2-27, 3-87, 4-124, 5-124, 6-126, 7-168, 8-177
BOWLING
J Sunderland 9-1-36-2
C Munoz 5-0-16-0
M Garside 8-0-22-2
A Daley 5-0-22-0
M Smith 2-0-14-0
T Vine 7-1-17-3
B Seekings 8-0-38-1
A Harris 1-0-9-0
BROMSGROVE WON BY 3 WICKETS