TORREVIEJA WIN SEASON OPENER WITH FOUR BALLS TO SPARE

Torreveija 207 for 8 beat Intellectuals 206 for 6 by 2 wickets

Bonalba Cricket ground played host to the first ECCL Development league game of the season.As news filtered through that Orihuela CC had pulled out of the league at the last moment the Torreveija team arrived at the picturesque ground for their first ever league game.

Torreveija skipper Lee Blann won the toss and elected to put the hosts into bat. Intellectuals had picked up several players from Valencia CC in the close season and look a tougher proposotion on paper as a result this year.

Faulkner and Shan opened but Faulkner went early and Richards followed a couple of balls later to leave the home side tottering at 13 for 2. Butcher and Waseem steadied the middle order but it was opener Ahmed and ex Valencia player Naveed Ul Rehmen with 51 and 67 not out respectively that were the main thorn in Torreveija´s side. Naveed was assisted by the veteran Horne (19 not out) at the end as they crafted out a 89 run unbeaten partnership to give the Intellectuals the respectable total of 206 for 6 off their allocated overs.

Torreveija came out after lunch and lost both openers quickly. Dangerman Lee Blann also fell cheaply to a sharp catch by Ahmad at mid-wickt to leave the visitors in trouble at 18 for 3. All the Torreveija middle order played their part in turning the game around with Ed Kent,Jack Webster and Neville Harris all making creditable runs to keep the visitors up with the run rate.

With the game heading to the wire the away team needed 21 off the last 3 overs with 3 wickets remaining. Intellectuals skipper Neil Richards turned to spinner Horne to stem the flow of runs.However, Brown took a liking to his bowling and took 15 runs from the six balls to leave the visitors only requiring 6 runs off two overs.A cluster of wides by Naveed in the penultimate over were offset by the wicket of Liam James to leave the Intellectuals needing just two wickets.

Youngster Keiron Wood defended the last two balls of Naveed´s over stoutly but with 2 runs required from the last over the writing was on the wall for the home side.  Torreveija achieved victory on the second ball when Brown nudgd the ball to fine leg and the Torry pair scampered the 2 runs required to edge an exciting game of cricket.

Torreveija took 17 points from the game and the Intellectuals obtained 7 points.A great way to start the season and if all the other games this year are as entertaining then cricket fans in Spain are in for a treat.