UNDERSTRENGTH SONSECA HOLD ON FOR VICTORY OVER MADRID II

Thanks to Joss Bancroft for the report.

Both teams failed to field 11 players for last Sunday’s encounter in Sonseca, with key regulars missing from each side. Sonseca won the toss, and decided to bat.

The openers (Irfan and Zeeshan) got them off to a great start, taking advantage of the reduced number of fielders to rattle off 50 from the first 8 overs without loss. From this point, the momentum swung, with opening bowlers K. Seshut (4-39) and R. Goldsmith (2-47) manging to find their line and length and to take a series of quick wickets against the attacking batsmen.

The nine men of Madrid looked well on top, having reduced the ten men of the opposition to 80-7. Sonseca then bounced back, with tailenders Fasil, Waqid and Waqas (40) doubling the score for the last two wickets, to reach a total of 160 all out from 24.4 overs.

Despite frustration of the wagging tail, Madrid recognized that they were still well in the game. And they looked to be on course for a comfortable victory when the openers Clark (30) and Malik (37) added 62 in 13 overs, before Sonseca captain Rizwan make his first breakthrough.

From this point the game ebbed and flowed, with Madrid closing in on a relatively modest target. However, Rizwan’s accuracy and movement regularly pegged back the run-chase, until he had single-handedly removed the first seven batsmen (eventually finishing with a memorable 7-44).

Madrid continued to edge towards the target, and it was not until the penultimate ball of the final over that Sonseca`s target became unreachable. However, a pointless run-out on the final ball converted the result from a winning draw to a 7 run victory for the side from Toledo province, placing them in a strong position to contest the top spot of the Madrid league with Madrid United.

Thanks to both teams for an entertaining match, which was played in a great spirit.