Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Sporting Alfas 1st X1 227 for 7 beat City Lions CC 226 for 10
First Match the Semi final against Girona Warriors. SACC won the toss and invited the Girona side to bat first. Wickets fell steadily as the Alfas bowlers did a good job in keeping the pressure on and the board ticked at only four an over, 212 was set.
Pick of the SACC bowlers was Spencer, his nine overs only cost nineteen runs and he claimed three wickets, Roper also gets a mention for holding his nerve after his first ball left the park but he took the final wicket with the first ball of his second over. A good show in the field. Now the cup holders must do the job with bat in hand, after reaching thirty eight, Spencer(8) was bowled by new bowler Shahzad. Then a silly run out, Ward was left in no mans land by Ali, forty eight for two at drinks (15 overs).
Crompton and Ali then set about building a long innings and the score ticked along at the asking rate, as the Warriors let singles be taken at will by the Alfas pair, Ali(73) fell foul of the umpires and was given out LBW, at the second drinks break and the score was on one hundred and sixteen but Alfas had plenty of wickets in hand.
Crompton (51) was helped out by Shahzad and Waqar both carrying on with the quick singles but neither reached double figures, at one hundred and sixty six for five from 38 overs it was looking like a shock win for the Girona boys but the introduction of SACC bowler Mohib gave all the momentum back to his team, the required runs came in the last over as Roper(8) joined Mohib(27).
A well timed win to allow SACC to play in Sundays Final.
The Final.
Batting first SACC set about the Lions attack and runs came at a rapid five runs per over without any quick wickets falling.With a large target in mind SACC reached 93 from 18 before Spencer was caught. Ward again fell foul of Ali and was run out. Crompton and Ali carried on scoring runs at five an over but Ali(81)then fell LBW.
138 for 3 at the 30 over mark. Then Crompton played around one and was bowled. Shahzad came and went, Roper fell too, suddenly SACC are in trouble at 143 for six after only two more overs. Laundon and Mohib then played very sensible and carried the total past the 200 mark, Mohib showing the way reaching 55 before the end.
A below par SACC score of 227 was set and now the boys have to defend it. Over a delightful tea SACC decided to go about things in a different way and open with Spencer and Shahzad thinking spin would win the day, first ball left the park as did the fifth. 13 off the first over.
Never one´s to panic SACC stuck to the game plan and only three came from the second,seven runs from the third and the breakthrough in the fourth, Ali taking Tanveed.
Another quick wicket as Amir fell LBW and the game looked back in SACC control 30 for two from five.The Lions team carried on playing with gusto and 60 runs came up in the tenth over for the loss of one more wicket as Crompton took a good catch to remove Naveed.
Always up with the run rate the introduction of SACC star bowler, 75 year old Paul Taylor, who is awaiting his knee replacement operation, struck fear into the Lions and the run rate slowed and wickets fell as Taylor and Crompton took control with the ball. Taylor, as ever, returning the best figures of the day with 4 for 22 from nine. 60 needed from the last eight and Laundon and Roper having the work to do as the City lions still had three wickets left.
The City Lions should have won the game but never seem to learn that single runs count, still trying to spank the ball out the ground, a good catch in the deep and two ridiculous run outs left SACC still holding the Spanish Champions cup and The City Lions visibly disappointed with every thing in sight.
Kevin Laundon
Chairman SACC
