SportGibraltar

Cricket: Gibraltar's season kicks off with a GCC win

GCC RUN FEAST AS WIGGINS/BENRIMOJ SHIELD GETS UNDER WAY.

The 2006 Wiggins Shield competition [now re-named the Wiggins/ Benrimoj Shield] got under way at the Europa Oval on Saturday with GCC, the current holders, recording a comprehensive win over a depleted Grammarians side. The GCC total of 307/5 equalled that made by Calpe CC against GCC (307/1) on the 22nd. June 2002, but was still well short of the highest ever total recorded in this competition. That honour, oddly enough, goes to GCC who recorded a total of 411/7 against Grammarians on the 17th. May, 1997. Highlights of Saturday�s game were yet another century for Christian Rocca and a fine 75 from ever-improving Kieron Ferrary.

Proceedings got under way at noon, GCC occupying the crease first. Steven Gonzalez, formerly of Calpe CC., and Ferrary got off to an electric start, 28 runs coming off the opening three overs before Vishal Kainth trapped Gonzalez leg before. Iain Latin then helped Ferrary add a further 77 runs for the second wicket before he was bowled by Charlie Harrison for 32. Newcomer David Knipe hit four fine boundaries before spooning a catch to Kabir Mirpuri in the gully to give Harrison his second victim of the afternoon, and this brought the prolific Rocca to the crease. He and Ferrary proceeded to punish the weak and under-strength Grammarians attack The total had just passed the 200 mark when Ferrary�s long vigil at the crease came to an end, stumped off the bowling of Dheeraj Punjabi for 75, an innings which included ten fours and a six. Rocca then continued on his merry way being merciless at the many loose balls he received before falling near the end; his 120 was scored of just 58 balls and included 23 fours and two sixes. Kainth and Harrison claimed two wickets each.

Mark Bacarese and Richard Buzaglo gave Grammarians a good start with a stand of 65, but when the former was brilliantly caught by Rudi Phillips at long on and Buzaglo followed seven runs later when nine short of his half century, the game was as good as over as a contest. Mirpuri (35) and Harrison (24 not out) did what they could but it was all in the vain as the side was dismissed for 156 in the 29th. over. Young Scott Chipolina chipped in with two wickets. GCC thus took 21 points from the game to Grammarians� three.

Next Week.

There are two Wiggins/ Benrimoj Shield matches scheduled for next week-end. On Saturday Grammarians are again in action, this time against PGCC, whilst the Sunday match features GCC and UKCCC. TJF.

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