SPANISH LEAGUE GETS UNDERWAY IN THE SOUTH

COMBINED COLLEGES DRAW FIRST BLOOD IN THE SOUTH

Open Day

Saturday 2^nd April 2011

Cricket – New Cartama Oval

On the eve of the first of this year’s local cricket league matches, in the shadow of Sri Lanka racking up 274 runs againstIndiain the ICC World Cup Final, so the nucleus of a new local team gathered at the New Cartama Oval.  These were cricketers between clubs or, more accurately, retired or at least not having played cricket for a number of years but with a mutual interest in getting up a new local club.

Now I’m no expert on describing degrees of rustiness but I can say this day saw probably the whole range from Tom’s youthful springiness through Peter’s sprightly 50 something litheness to Rays near pension age seized-up-solid.  (Well, he will be come Monday anyway!).  Everybody was given a chance to show his ability with bat, ball and in fielding as they batted in pairs for ten overs per pair. 

And ability was there for all to see.  It was clear that there were half a dozen who with a bit of practice will form the heart of a batting line up and four whose bowling will be up to the mark.  All who were present enjoyed their outing on the field and were full of positive thoughts for the future. 

More players are needed in order to support a regular fixture list.  Why not come and join in?  All are welcome.  Contact Tim on 662 233 302.  Tentative arrangements are in place for a match to be played in the Semana Santa weekend, opposition to be confirmed. 

Ray Fry

Sunday 3rd April 2011

Cricket – New Cartama Oval

League Match Malaga v Combined Colleges

Southern Spanish Cricket League

Malaga CC v Combined Colleges CC  3^rd April 2011.              Won by Combined Colleges CC by 5 wickets.

Malaga CC won the toss and elected to bat.

MalagaCC 163 All Out, 4 points.                    Combined Colleges 164 for 5, 19 points.

Here on theCosta del Solwe are not accustomed to the weather playing in significant part in the outcome of a cricket match.  Today’s match was an exception, with Malaga CC were unfortunate to be left holding the dirty end of the stick as the rain fell in the middle of the afternoon.

Unusually Asif Tarrer opened forMalagaand batted sensibly against the pace of Brian Barrett and the nagging accuracy of Anwar ul Arifeen until in the fifth over he gloved a ball from Brian Barrett to the keeper.  Well done Asif for turning and walking off without hesitation, knowing he was out.

Azhar Hassan and Zaman Khan pushed the score on to 50 in just thirty one deliveries before a rash of three wickets in ten balls leftMalagarocking.  50 for 1 off ten overs suddenly became 54 for 4 off twelve overs.

Atif Rashid and Waqas Ali brought a bit of stability, taking the score on to 7 off twenty overs before Waqas hit a cracking square cut with laser guided precision to Previn Menon at point.  The later orderMalagabatsmen struggled to get Combined Colleges away but dug in to reach 154 off thirty overs before the last three wickets fell in twelve deliveries to leaveMalaga163 all out.

Malagamade a good start with the ball and were encouraged to see Combined Colleges 38 for 2 off seven overs when Atif Rashid found himself under a tremendous skier coming down with the proverbial snow on it and took the catch as nonchalantly as you like.  Combined Colleges were scoring a bit faster thanMalagahad done but were by no means racing away with the game.  84 for 3 off thirteen overs became 94 for 4 off 14 when Shoab Hussain sent the ball screaming away like an exocet missile for a flat six over mid off, or would have done if that man Atif Rashid hadn’t been lurking nearby to take a very impressive catch just as nonchalantly as his previous one.

After ths life became difficult forMalaga.  Light rain made the ball difficult to control.  Previn Menon and Brian Barrett kept the scoreboard turning over faster thanMalagawould have liked.  After a break for rain Previn edged Asif Tarrer to Zaman Khan behind the stumps before, in increasingly heavy rain the Combined Colleges sixth wicket pair knocked off the required runs for victory.  It was hard onMalaga.

With a dry ball, maybe their best bowlers could have seen off a few more wickets and perhaps even have won the match.  As it was, if the teams had left the field Combined Colleges superior run rate would have given them the points.  By staying on the worsening conditions were entirely in favour of the batting side.  A lose/lose situation forMalagaand not at all a satisfactory way to decide the first league match of the year.

This match saw some good work in the field with eleven of the fifteen wickets going to catches, several of which were difficult and none were particularly easy.  It might have been more if horribly difficult chances to a sliding Mark Ward and a diving Asif Tarrer had stuck.  Man of the Match today was Brian Barrett for his 38 not out, 3 wickets for 20 and his catch of a skier to slip.

 Ray Fry