SPAIN 96 ALL OUT LOST TO BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY 97-2 BY 8 WICKETS.
Spain won the toss and stand in skipper Matt Sherry decided to bat on a sunny La Manga day. The outfield still had signs of overnight dew in places but the wicket looked a good one to bat on. The lively and energetic bowling attack of Sprittles and Hemmings soon had a wicket each and Spain were reeling at 14 for 2 with both openers back in the pavillion.
Debut boy, Gary Crompton batting at number three played a mature innings for his 29 but when he was bowled by Wells any further resistance was not forthcoming. Some woeful batting saw Spain lose their last six wickets for 18 runs and 21.3 overs of their allocated 50 went unused. The disappointing batting display was made even more frustrating for the players and supporters alike by the choice of shot selection by the middle and late order.Each shot was played like the last over of a 20/20 game when application to the job at hand and working to ensure all 50 overs were taken up was what was necessary.Indeed, only some wayward bowling by the West Midlanders which gave the home side an extra 35 runs prevented an even further humiliation.
In contrast, Birmingham’s openers Grewcock and Wood batted sensibly and looked at ease putting on an unbeaten 52 up until lunch was taken at 2pm. Straight after the break and a lapse in concentration by Grewcock led to the University side losing their first wicket when he holed out at mid on to a smartly taken catch by Gulzar off the bowling of Wasim. When the same bowler accounted for Richardson in the same over Spanish fans started thinking that maybe the players could make a fight of the match. However, with the excellent Wood playing the anchor role to score a splendid 43 not out and Franklin ably supporting his captain with 21 not out the visitors breezed over the finishing line with 8 wickets and 25.2 overs to spare.
SPAIN XI 96 ALL OUT
M ALI CAUGHT J GRAY BOWLED HEMMINGS 5
S ALI CAUGHT D WOOD BOWLED SPRITTLES 0
G CROMPTON BOWLED D WELLS 29
W UL REHMAN CAUGHT D WOOD BOWLED POWELL 6
M SHERRY CAUGHT … BOWLED J GRAY 6
P BEAL CAUGHT D WOOD BOWLED J GRAY 0
M GARSIDE CAUGHT J SPRITTLES BOWLED J GRAY 5
A GULZAR NOT OUT 2
M KHAN CAUGHT …. BOWLED J GRAY 4
S LUPSON BOWLED GRIFFEN 4
N MOHAMMED CAUGHT HEWTON BOWLED GRAY 0
EXTRAS 35
TOTAL 96 ALL OUT
FOW 1-6,2-14,3-40,4-61,5-78,6-85,7-85,8-89,9-95,10-96.
J SPRITTLES 5-2-6-1
C HEMMINGS 5-0-15-1
D POWELL 5-1-34-1
D WELLS 5-2-11-1
H GRIFFEN 4-1-20-2
J GRAY 3.3-2-5-4
BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY XI 97 FOR 2
L GREWCOCK CAUGHT GULZAR BOWLED WASIM 22
D WOOD NOT OUT 43
A RICHARDSON CAUGHT CROMPTON BOWLED WASIM 0
D FRANKLIN NOT OUT 21
S ASLAM DNB
N MURRAY DNB
J HEWTON DNB
C HEMMINGS DNB
J SPRITTLES DNB
H GRIFFIN DNB
EXTRAS 11
TOTAL 97 FOR 2
FOW 1-52,2-52
S LUPSON 5-0-23-0
N MOHAMMED 5-1-19-0
M SHERRY 4-0-23-0
WASIM 5-1-13-2
A GULZAR 3-1-8-0
P BEAL 1.4-0-10-0
UMPIRES RON GRAHAM AND CLIVE REES.
SCORER CLAIRE SUNDERLAND
BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY WIN BY 8 WICKETS.