SPORTING ALFAS TAKE MAXIMUM POINTS FROM LA MANGA CONFRONTATION

Sporting Alfas I put themselves in prime position to win the ECCL Premier Division with a maximum points victory over their arch rivals La Manga I at Albir yesterday.

La Manga won the toss and elected to bat on a baking hot day but the decision seemed to have backfired when they lost opener Martin Harbour and Adeel Shafter with just one run on the board.

It could have been far worse as the other opener and La Manga skipper Neil Brook was dropped twice in the slips early on, but he made the most of his good luck to forge a telling partnership with Kiwi Elliot Banks.

Their useful contribution came to an abrupt end in bizarre circumstances. A ball from Pennick was timed well by Brook and looked to be flying to the mid off bounday. However, the outstrecthed hand of Kevin Laundon nearly pulled off a fine one handed catch. This unexpected stop caused confusion amongst the batsmen as the ball plugged right at Laundon’s feet. He reacted quickly and threw the ball to the non-strikers end, hitting the stumps directly to leave Banks well out of his ground has he tried in vain to scurry back to his crease.

This pivitol moment turned the game back in favour of Alfas and the rest of the La Manga batsman offered little resistence. The visitors finally ended up 128 all out with Neil Brook top scoring with 52. For Alfas, Basharat Ali took four wickets for six runs and there was a rare sight of Spanish international Christian Munoz bowling. He showed he has lost none of his prowess, as he took two wickets for no runs in a solitary over at the end to wrap up the La Manga innings.

Alfas came out in determined mood and scored quickly before Joel Brook got an inside edge onto his stumps to stem the flow. Munoz paired up with Pennick and both batted nicely until the latter was needlessly run out with around half of the La Manga total chased down.

The Alfas skipper Ben Fletcher played a nice little cameo before offering a simple catch to Wambeek at gully off Akash Panchal. Then the Woodbridge Oval regulars were treated to the welcome return of Faran Afzal to the Alfas fold. The former Spanish star did not disappoint, scoring 41 not out and winning the game with a huge six with numerous overs to spare.

The comfortable victory for Alfas gave them 20 points, whilst La Manga got two bowling and two batting points for their troubles. Alfas can clinch the title on August 17th in La Manga if they do not lose to their main threat, Alcorcon that day. 

REPORT FROM SPORTING ALFAS ON THE GAME

Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Sporting Alfas 1st X1 129 for 4 beat La Manga CC 128 for 10

SACC 1st XI moved within touching distance of regaining the league title with a convincing win over neighbours La Manga.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the new look La Manga line up were no match for SACC on the day. Apart from a couple of agricultural slaps from Banks and Wood, only experienced campaigner and current Spain coach Neil Brook offered any real resistance, keeping the early part of the innings together with a well constructed half century, albeit with a little help from an unusually generous SACC slip cordon.

However once he departed the innings quickly subsided, due to a fine spell of bowling from Basharat coupled with some excellent fielding and catching by Alfaz. Special mention must go to one of the youngest players to represent SACC in their first division league campaign, James Wallington-Smith, drafted in after a health scare to the most senior member to represent SACC in their first division league campaign, Paul Taylor.

To his credit James bowled seven economical overs of well flighted offspin, and also managed to plug the gaping hole made by Paul´s absence in the field. Special mention also to Chris Muñoz, who has spent all season hassling the captain to bring him into the attack, and rewarded the faith shown in him by claiming the two crucial scalps of batsmen 10 and 11.

The run chase got off to a slow start. Opener Joel Brook, with the honour of playing in the SACC red cap awarded for most runs scored over the league campaign, was unfortunately unable to live up to such a lofty accolade and played all around a straight one from Abbas.

He was quickly followed by his opening partner Pennick, who this week managed to avoid his trademark lbw dismissal by running himself out. Calm was restored by Muñoz and Faran (the man with no average), who came to the crease after the captain had offered the visitors some hope by fishing and wafting around for a little while.

Muñoz made a classy 44 but was dismissed near the end, caught at deep square leg trying to finish the game quickly, leaving Roper and Faran to score the last few runs required.

SACC are now well ahead on the points table, with their next game in a couple of weeks time against Alcorcón looking like being the decider.