- Robin Parmenter
Ibiza CC vs Alfas CC 1st XI 35 overs per side 12/11/2016
Result: Ibiza (111/3) beat Alfas (110/8) by 7 wickets
New Skipper Sam Gooda put the hosts into bat first and Ibiza’s new pair of opening bowlers Sam Feasey and Steve Hadlow exerted pressure at once, despite a couple of aggressive boundaries from Alfas opener Kevin Laundon (15). However, thanks to two reflex slip catches, the hosts were soon on 19/2, 33/4, and then 55/5, and it was only a cameo innings of 23 from Skipper Jamie Roper that kept the runs flowing. But when he departed to a top edged drive, Alfas were on 71/6, and then lost another two quick wickets to find themselves on an unusually low scoring 81/8 off 21 overs. It was only a watchful partnership of 30 from veteran batsman Geoff Evans (17 not out) and young Kieran Roper (10 not out) that allowed the hosts to finish on an under par 110/8 off 35 overs.
Steve Hadlow (3/23), Sam Feasey (2/38) and Paul Cruttwell (2/8) were the pick of the Ibiza bowlers, but the whole Ibiza team deserves credit for their enthusiastic fielding and tight bowling which helped to restrict runs throughout.
Ibiza thus had an achievable target to reach, but first their openers Tim Stacey and Sam Gooda had to withstand early pressure from the Alfas pace bowlers Jamie Roper and Bashar Ali. The former went early, and then another wicket fell, before Sam Gooda (22) and Sam Feasey (37 not out) combined in a crucial stand of 48 runs to bring their target closer. When the skipper was out, the score was 68/3 so anything was possible, but the experienced Graeme Cooper (20 not out) joined Sam Feasey, and they ensured there were no other alarms, reaching 111/3 in the 28th over. Ibiza thus won the Saturday match against Alfas for only the second time in 23 years (with both teams missing a couple of regular players), so well done to everyone involved!
For the Alfas bowlers, Jamie Roper (1/15), Bashar Ali (1/10) and the ageless Paul Taylor (1/16 and 76 years’young!) obtained the wickets to fall.
Ibiza CC vs Alfas 2nd XI 30 overs per side 13/11/2016
Result: Ibiza (137/5) beat Alfas (132/9) by 5 runs
This time, Ibiza batted first and started badly, losing a wicket from a direct hit in the second over! They then had to fend off some accurate bowling for several overs before scoring, and once on 15, another wicket fell. The rate run was only 3 per over at 42/3 off 14 overs, with skipper Sam Gooda reaching 22 before departing at 65/4, so it needed someone to step up and score more runs. Fortunately for Ibiza, all rounder Steve Hadlow (50) and vice captain Paul Cruttwell (27 not out) forged a 64 run partnership that allowed Ibiza to finally post a competitive 137/5 off their 30 overs. For Alfas, Hamza, Ransom and Ahmed got a wicket each, there also being 2 run out from direct hits.
When the hosts batted, their openers Mark Perman (49) and Waqar Ashraf (28) scored steadily in a 58 run opening stand, before the latter departed. Several more wickets fell to leave them on 74/4 off 16 overs, but still in line with the required run rate. They had reached 105/4, needing another 33 runs off 6 overs, when veteran Ibiza bowler Jeremy Parmenter stepped up and bowled a remarkable and totally unexpected maiden over with 4 wickets off consecutive balls, reducing Alfas to a precarious 105/8!
He then achieved his “five for” in his next over, and the hosts still needed 20 runs off 3 overs, with one wicket left, ensuring an exciting finish! Veteran Alfas all rounder John Braithwaite struck a few boundaries in his defiant 29 not out, but they fell just short, finishing on 132/9, with Ibiza running out winners of a tight contest by only 5 runs!
Of the Ibiza bowlers, Jeremy Parmenter achieved an impressive 5/18, with Paul Cruttwell (2/9) and newcomer Max Hughes (2/30) also standing out, while all the bowlers did well, and the fielding was once again lively and alert, which is not what spectators usually witness from Ibiza players in the Sunday match!
This is the last report for 2016, so it could not be complete without thanking the Alfas players who always welcome us back every year, especially Kevin, Geoff, John, Mark and Jane plus the wives who make the teas; thanks go also to the large group of Ibiza supporters who made the trip and were treated to a wonderful weekend of cricket as well as plenty of lager! Also to scorer Dave Reynolds, umpires Vincent and Bobby, and last but certainly not least to outgoing Skipper Graham Boe, who is stepping down due to work committments, and managed to captain a disparate group of noisy players for 2 years! We wish him all the best.
RPHood
