Sunday 17 June Sporting Alfas C.C. 255-5 Intellectuals C.C. 96
Alfas retain the Intellectuals Alicante Cup
The Alicante Cup, presented by the Intellectuals C.C. and first played for in 2001, was successfully retained by Sporting Alfas C.C. Both teams included a number of junior players and, as is fitting for such a match, the ‘spirit of cricket’ was evident throughout the afternoon.
Batting first, the Alfas total had reached forty-five before Seekings was dismissed for a useful twenty-three. After a second wicket fell shortly afterwards, the middle-order batsmen all scored half-centuries. With Muñoz completing a fine sixty-six, S. Ul-Rehman (56) and Merrow-Smith (52), a substantial total was inevitable. The opening bowlers for the Intellectuals, junior players D. Togher and Hersh, each bowled four creditable overs, but not unexpectedly suffered later in the innings. The most successful bowler for the Intellectuals was Wasim who claimed 3-24 from his eight overs, whilst Hersh finished with figures of 2-46.
The reply by the Intellectuals had reached twenty-three by the sixth over before junior player Sunderland commenced the destruction of the top-order as he claimed 4-10 in the space of his next four overs. After A. Fletcher had accounted for McGarry (19) the only resistance came from Hersh, who applied himself to occupying the crease and contributed a useful sixteen runs before being the final batsman to be dismissed, and Wasley. Sunderland finished with the excellent figures of 4-16 and A. Fletcher, Griffin and Munoz all claimed two wickets.
Following the completion of the match, Laurence McGarry presented the ‘Man of the Match’ award to Christian Muñoz and Rick Wasley presented the Intellectuals Alicante Cup to Joe Williams, the Alfas captain.