SPAIN NARROWLY DEFEATED BY QUICK CC
Spain’s second opponents for the 2008 season came in the shape of Quick CC a formidable cricketing outfit from The Hague in the Nederlands. The tourists were blessed with many Dutch Internationals past and present and were captained by Eddie Schiferli who to date has taken a total of 22 wickets in this years Intercontinental Cup, including 3-47 in their last match against the United Arab of Emirates earlier this month in Sharjah.
Spain lost the toss and were put into the field on a sunny day in La Manga.Opening for Quick were New Zealand born Darron Reekers and Dutch International Geert-Martin Mol . Kiwi Reekers played for Canterbury CC in his native country from 1994-2002 and had one season for Otago before qualify for Holland and making his debut for the Dutch in the C & G trophy against Norfolk. He qualified for international competitions in 2004 and played in the ICC trophy in Ireland in 2005. Geert-Martin Mol has also played for Holland in the past so it was exciting to see the Spanish bowling attack of Tanveer and Lupson testing both parties.
Lupson had a fine opening spell of 0-9 off his first five overs but it was Tanveer who got the breakthrough when the score was on 15 when he bowled Reekers for 8. With the fall of Reekers in came Thomas and the crowd were treated to some exceptional stroke play by both players in what turned out to be a joint contribution of 110 to the Quick score.The partnership was ended when Mol was finally bowled by Wasim in the 26th over with the score on 125. Thomas continued to take the attack to the bowlers and it was with some relief to Spanish fans and players alike that he finally fell to an unplayable ball by spinner Compton when he had made 82.
The Dutch side continued to score strongly, notably through another Dutch international, and Geert-Martin’s older brother Hendrik-Jan Mol. At the other end he was ably supported by Van Bunge and Rawson who both contributed to Quicks total with 14 and 27 not out respectively. With Mol ending on 76 not out the tourists finished with the imposing total of 272 for 4 off their allocated 50 overs.
In reply, Spain got off to the worst possible start when Shafique was out to his first ball of the day. He was late on a pull shot and holed out at mid-wicket to Hendrik-Jan Mol off the dangerous Shiferli in the first over. Things got worse for Spain when Khan was caught at point by Thomas off Oosterwight, leaving the hosts shellshocked at 17 for 2. It would not be unfair to say that in the past Spain have been known to capitulate rapidly after such starts but in the shape of Crompton and captain Howe they have the players willing to play the right innings for the right occaision. From the first ball Cromptons timing looked impeccable and Howe played a typically tenacious innings despite feeling the effects of the broken toe he received playing cricket a few weeks ago. The pair dragged Spain back into the game and put on a partnership of 94 before Howe was stumped by Van Gigh off the impressive spin bowling of Reekers with the score on 111. Rehman came in and scored a quick fire 20 before being trapped lbw by the same bowler but with Crompton batting soundly at the other hand Spain still had a chance to turn this game around.
This seemed even more possible with the way Sherry (42 not out) came in and started playing and it was only when Crompton was out to Reekers in the same fashion as Howe that Spanish hopes of a win began to fade. Tanveer and Beal both came in and scored at approximately a run a ball but with Spain needing 20 off the last two overs it just prooved a stretch too far and they finally had to settle for 256 for 8 and a 16 run defeat.
Coach Wambeek and captain Howe can take many positives from this performance and to run such a quality team as close as this shows that Spain are continuing to progress in the right direction, as they look to cement the nucleus of a team for next years ECC Championship tournament.
QUICK CC BEAT SPAIN BY 16 RUNS
QUICK CC
D Reekers Bowled Tanveer 8
G-M Mol Bowled Wasim 36
W Thomas Bowled Crompton 82
M-J Mol Not Out 76
J Van Bunge Lbw Wasim 14
C Rawson Not Out 27
J Brand Dnb
B Van Gigh Dnb
E Shiferli Dnb
T Van Schriven Dnb
B Oosterwigh Dnb
Extras 29
Total 272 for 4 off 50 overs
FOW 1-15, 2-125, 3-142, 4-145
M Tanveer 9-0-46-1
S Lupson 7-2-21-0
P Reid 5-1-26-0
M Sherry 5-0-25-0
Wasim 10-0-44-2
P Beal 3-0-32-0
G Crompton 5-1-35-1
I Khan 6-0-32-0
SPAIN
I Khan Caught Thomas Bowled Oosterwigh 12
Shafique Caught H-J Mol Bowled Schiferli 0
G Crompton Stumped Van Gigh Bowled Reekers 88
G Howe Stumped Van Gigh Bowled Reekers 25
Wasim Lbw Reekers 20
M Sherry Not Out 42
M Tanveer Caught Shiferli Bowled Thomas 12
P Beal Bowled G-M Mol 14
P Read Run Out 2
S Lupson Not Out 0
G Wambeek Dnb
Extras 41
Total 256 for 8 off allocated 50 overs
E Schiferli 8-1-35-1
B Oosterwigh 7-1-31-1
J Brand 3-1-7-0
G-M Mol 8-1-30-1
J Van Schreven 3-0-26-0
D Reekers 10-1-49-3
C Rawson 2-0-24-0
W Thomas 9-0-42-1
Umpires Ron Graham & Allan Bacon
Scorers Claire Sunderland & G Mantouani