Earlier this month the Spanish Over 40’s toured Denmark to play in a tournament and they came back victorious. Thanks to Harmit Phull for the report
SPANISH CONQUER THE DANES!!
On the 11th July, the Spanish Over 40s Cricket Team travelled to Denmark´s city of Copenhagen to take part in two Tournaments one a 20/20 and the other of 40 overs on.
The eleven players are all members of Cricket teams across Spain. They were G Wambeek, G Evans, K Laundon, J Braithwaite, D Williams, H James, P Davis, D Keane, N French, R Nix, H Phull and the Spanish Team Scorer L Laundon. With NO 12th man there was no capacity for any slacking or for any injuries!!!!
The tournament was opened by the Deputy Mayor welcoming teams from Holland, Sweden, England, Spain and Denmark.
All the matches were played at the spectacular ‘Svanholm Park Stadium’ and the weather for Cricket was fantastic the entire week.
Spain kicked off their 20/20 tournament with a grueling 3 games on the trot! The first game was against the Dutch, who struggled to reach 68 for 9 at the end of their 20 overs, thanks to some fine bowling from Spain, with H Phull taking 4 wickets for 11 runs. In reply openers D Williams and G Evans knocked of the runs in 10.2 overs.
After a comfortable first game win, their match against Sweden was a different ball game all together. The Swedish team had fielded several players under the age of 40 years, somewhat against the rules and regulations. However, not to take anything away from their explosive batting, they scored an awesome 222 for 4 wickets in 20 overs. In reply, a quick fire 69 runs from K Laundon gave Spain hope, but after losing their top order wickets quickly, Spain finished their 20 overs with 127 runs for 7 wickets.
The Spanish team had to quickly re-group and focus on their 3rd match of the day which was against the hosts Denmark. They had to win this match and the remaining one against the ´Forty Club´ English team to stand any chance of winning the tournament. G Wambeek, 20/20 captain, yet again lost the toss and once more the Spanish team started the match in the field. The Danes had a flying start but some fine bowling from K Laundon and N French slowed them down, finishing on 97 runs for 5 wickets in their 20 overs. Spain started disastrously with K Laundon out for 0, but a 50 from D Williams and a solid batting partnership from P Davis and G Evans took Spain to their 2nd victory needing just 15 overs to get the target.
The following day was the big game; although Sweden had technically won the 20/20 Tournament having won all their matches; the real legitimate winners would be from the game between Spain v England. Losing the toss again, Spain were in the field chasing leather and at one point The English Forty Club looked as if they were going to reach 200 plus in their 20 overs.
However, Spain fought back and the middle order bowling of P Davis and G Wambeek contained the side to 134 runs for 6 wickets. The Spanish in reply lost their in-form batsman D Williams cheaply for 2 runs! Steady batting was required from G Evans and K Laundon and as the required run rate crept up, both batsman lost their wickets within balls of each other. With P Davis and N French at the crease and a required run rate in double figures, it looked as if all was lost. 4 overs to go and a run rate now at 13, both batsman were finally seeing the ball as big as a “football`”. P Davis smashed the ball everywhere, including 2 huge sixes. He was well supported by N French and they got Spain to the target with 3 balls to go. P Davis finished 47 not out and had also taken 3 wickets in the bowling attack.
This performance earned the Spanish Team the title of being ‘The Real 40+ Champions’, 2nd only to the young Swedish side.
It was the Danish XI Cricket Club’s, 50th Jubilee Anniversary and to celebrate, the Host, Holland, Spain and a combined 11 were to take part in a special 40 overs tournament. G Evans was to captain these matches for Spain and he faired no better in winning the toss, so yet again Spain started both games in the field.
The first was against the Dutch team, who batted well with their two international stars scoring 50s taking them to a respectable total of 228 in their 40 overs, J Braithwaite again the pick of the bowlers. In reply, D Williams (putting aside his previous failure) and G Evans amazingly achieved the required target of 229 runs in only 29 overs. D Williams made a superb 127 not out and a skipper´s innings from G Evans 76 not out. “A great innings said the Tournament Organisers”.
The final game against the Combined XL, which was a team made up of players from England, Denmark and Holland. Combined team batting first finished on 162 runs from their 40 over, pinned back by fine bowling from J Braithwaite – 4 wickets for 45 runs, H Phull – 2 wickets for 25 runs, D Keane 2 wickets for 32 runs. The Spanish team continued to show their strength in the 40 over game and with a reshuffled order, their outstanding wicket keeper R Nix opened the batting with K Laundon, they both reached their 50 and declared to allow D Keane – 30 not out and J Braithwaite – 6 not out, to see the Spanish team reach their target needing only 23 overs.
The Spanish 40+ Team would like to thank Cricket Espana for their contribution towards flight costs and to Ricos Bar Restaurant, SJ&A Digital Printing Services, both based in Torrevieja by the Park of Nations for sponsoring them and their support.
SPANISH TEAM AWARDS
Best Individual Performance – P Davis v England
Best Batsman – D Williams v Denmark
Best Bowler – J Braithwaite consistent bowling throughout
Players Player – H Phull
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