A great spectacle was on offer at the Woodbridge Oval Albir, a competition being fought out by Torrevieja CC, Pinatar Pirates CC and the home side Sporting Alfas CC.
An early start was required and despite the heavens sending down a steady flow, PPCC and Torrimanga started on time at 9:30 am. PPCC batting first, giving all teams a standard to work on. PPCC reached 114 from their overs with Ravi Panchal top scoring with a classy 54. Torrivieja never really catching up after P Hennessy removed three wickets for 5 runs from his two overs, despite fine efforts from T, Culshaw (17) and C ,Woods (12) that gave TCC a respectable 55 in their over allotment.
Second match. TCC and SACC, the home skipper won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener on the day Jack Perman was gleefully sent back to the changing rooms by S. Khan when facing his first ball, allowing F Afzal an early opportunity which he took with G Crompton, Both batsmen were striking the ball well until G Crompton nicked behind falling on 26 from 13 balls. Muñoz (36f rom 18) and Afzal (64 from 20) then smashed the luckless bowlers reaching 141 from their overs. TCC hung around and with the help of SACC bowlers reached 78 with 19 coming in extras. Culshaw again in the runs with 29 and T Knowles enjoying his company reaching 22, just over half the runs required.
Third match up was between favourites PPCC and the home team SACC. SACC winning toss and batting first, the runs came at a steady 12 an over, so a score of 120 to chase down. The SACC bowlers then found the line they needed, reducing extras to 7 was the biggest reward, and with F Afzal bowling his two over spell for only 7 runs and grabbing two wickets to gave PPCC a difficult chase. Bittu Singh (43 from 15) gave it a right good go and ended not out along side Vinod Singh (14 from 5) giving the favourites a first defeat for a while in the short format.
Fourth match was between PPCC and TCC with PPCC reaching 143. V Singh (51 from 15) and R Panchal (37 from 19) top scorers. PPCC bowlers took no prisoners and dismissed TCC for 60 only S Khan reaching double figures with 22. Mr wide was second highest with 13. K Lal claiming 3 for 7 to be the pick of the bowling.
Fifth match SACC vs TCC. SACC again got off at over 10 runs per over, Crompton falling on 30, then when F Afzal was clean bowled by R Maini first ball it could be chitters through out the SACC camp, but J Perman and C Muñoz took the score past fifty when J Perman (24) was bowled. Five runs later Muñoz (17) was out caught by the ever green H James leaving A Alger looking as though he had never held a bat against his old team mates. He was finally ran out for 2 from 9 balls. J Roper spanked 28 from 15 balls and KP 4 from 3 giving a below par 110 for SACC to defend. TCC were by this stage tiring quickly and sadly no batsman reached double figures, Mr Wide though got a respectable 19. TCC 49 for 6.
Sixth match and what should have been a fantastic final game. The toss won by SACC and they elected to bat which meant whatever score they reached PPCC would have to reach then finish with a four to secure top spot on the day.
A score of 111 was reached and the organisers along with Pinatar mathematically worked out what was they required to get when batting, PPCC needed to get to it and hit a four or reach 109 and hit a six.
With the clock ticking and umpires ready to resume the match, Pinatar decided that the task in hand was too much for them and decided to forfeit the match.
SACC had won the tournament, Ravi Panchal, Paul Hennessy and George Wambeek from the Pirates congratulated their friendly rivals and joined their Alfaz friends having a few celebratory drinks.
Many thanks to Gordon Ashford, Rob Dhondai, John Howden, David Riley, Ian Byrne and Peter Wright who excelled in their duties as Umpires and scorers.
Alfas will now play the winners from the Cataluyna T-Twenty competition to see who represents Spain in the newly formed European Cricket League next year.
Sporting Alfas Cricket Club