By Andrew Atkinson
LaMangaTorre CC hosted Madrid United in the first of two T20 fixtures in Torrevieja – with MU getting a taste of playing on a Flicx wicket for the first time – gaining an emphatic victory.
A change in the LaMangaTorre CC team saw G. Neve take the captain’s armband – winning the toss and electing to ball.
“The plan was to ball first, and let the low bounce catch the away team by surprise,” LaMangaTorre CC player Kieran Wood told me.
Connor Wood and T. Culshaw took the new ball and got to work, but it was the bowlers that were forced to work, when openers Akmal and Waheed adjusted to the pitch quickly – taking the battle to the bowlers. Wood going for 9 runs off three overs, before an expensive final over, following some under-par fielding, that took his final figures to 22 off 4 overs. Culshaw went for 12 off his first three overs, before claiming his first wicket of the year, at the cost of 9 runs. 8 overs: 44/1.
A change of bowling saw debutee V. Vuneja replace C. Wood, and Pawitter Singh replace T. Culshaw at the other end.
Initial loose delieveries from Vuneja, ended, when he claimed his first wicket for the team in his first over; whilst Pawitter Singh also struck in his first over. Score: 65/3.
A two overs spell of 1-18 from V. Vuneja saw him being replaced for A. Court. P. Singh was changed for V. Vuneja, in a change of ends.
- Court was expensive in his first over – 12 runs – recovering just conceding a single in his second over. V. Vuneja bowled his remaining two overs, with similar figures from the first spell.
A change of bowling end with P. Singh replacing A. Court. A. Court replacing the bowled out V. Vuneja. The final four overs went for 30 runs, with A. Court claiming a wicket and P. Singh claiming two wickets, from two balls, in his final over.
Madrid United scoring a respective 134/7. Darfaraz (22), Akmal (23) and Waheed (32) being the only batsmen to reach double digits.
Pawitter Singh finished 3-21 off 4 overs; V. Vuneja 2-35 off 4 overs, with A. Court (1-32).
A quick change over saw G. Neve choose LaMangaTorre CC openers P. Fletcher and J. Kinsella. A good first over going for seven, without loss.
Terror struck, when Hafeez came on to bowl at the other end, clean bowling J. Kinsella, first ball.
Knowles went in at three, but was out second ball, after attempting a quick single to short mid-wicket, following the Madrid United player BOOTING the ball to the stumps!
Good work from Hafeez saw him pick up a wide shot – knocking the bails off – before the diving T. Knowles could ground his bat.
Hunt went in at four at the non-strikers end, ending in agony, as he could only watch P. Fletcher get bowled on the final ball of the over; wides being the only run score of the over, with the loss of three batsmen.
Neve was in at five, and, after just 12 balls and nice shots, brought the game back. It was all in vein, with Neve caught out for 11 runs, in the fifth over. Score: 32/4.
Chaos entailed around the camp as C. Hunt was next to walk – after more big shots paid off – shortly after mis- timing a shot, to mid-on.
The batsmen crossed with A. Singh out next ball, lbw. Two new batsmen at the crease, in Pawitter Singh and V. Vuneja. A couple of singles emerged, until trying to score big, a pull shot fell short of the boundary, landing nicely in the hands of the fielder.
Culshaw was in at nine, but could only watch P. Singh play a shot to point, where unfortunately a good catch saw his innings end.
Wood walked in at 10, facing one ball, before begining the walk-out, bowled. A. Court walked in at 11, surviving the remainder of the over. The following over saw the innings end with T. Culshaw bowled.
LaMangaTorre CC all out 50 runs, from 8 overs and 1 ball. C. Hunt (18) & G. Neve (11) returning double digits, with five ducks in the line-up. Madrid United bowling figures: 1-28 Ahsan; 4-14 Hafeez; 1-3 Jumshed; 3-5 Itifaq. Madrid United returning a 84 run victory.
*LaMangaTorre CC v Madrid United T20 second fixture from Torrevieja in next week’s edition.
