SportGibraltar

Cricket: Results from the semi finals of the Murto Cup

GRAMMARIANS v GCC FINAL.

The Murto Cup semi finals, played over the week-end, resulted in victories for Grammarians and GCC over Calpe CC and Combined Colleges respectively. Highlights of the first match were fine innings of 79 by David Young of Calpe CC and 85 from Hugo Adair for Grammarians on the Saturday. In the Sunday fixture Christian Rocca of GCC missed out on yet another century by one run, Steven Gonzalez, of the same team continued his fine form with the bat with an innings of 70, Paul Harris of Combined Colleges scored 64, whilst in the bowling department Nushan Alwis of Combined Colleges claimed six victims and Gary De’Ath of GCC four.

GRAMMARIANS TOO STRONG FOR DEPLETED CALPE CC.

Calpe CC, already missing some of their “stars”, back in UK to resume their studies, put up a good fight against a Grammarians strengthened by visitors from the UK., in the first of the Murto Cup semi finals played on Saturday at the Victoria Stadium. Batting first they were given a solid start by David Young and Mark Bacarese who put on 57 runs in the opening eleven overs before the latter played over a full toss from Steve McEwan and had his stumps shattered. This brought Karan Aswani to the crease and he helped Young add a further 73 runs for the second wicket, Young hitting anything loose to the boundary and beyond. With the total on 130 Young tried to hit a six too many and was well caught by Ross Harkins on the boundary edge for 79 off the bowling of Hugo Adair; the batsman had hit five sixes and eight fours. Aswani seemed destined for his half century when he swung across a ball from Adair and was judged leg before when eight short of that target. This exposed the long Calpe tail although a brave innings of 43 from Paul Buttigieg saw them reach a total of 207/9 at the end of the allotted forty overs. For the fielding side, McEwan returned figures of 4/29 and there were two wickets apiece for Adair and young Josh Hatcher.

Adair and Harkins gave their side an excellent start with a partnership of 88 in the opening sixteen overs before Harkins was bowled by a rank long hop from Robbie Skinner for 45. Grammarians then lost two wickets cheaply but Adair continued to punish anything loose until he was brilliantly caught by Buttigieg at backward short leg off the bowling of Adam Orfila when fifteen runs short of his century. However by then the game was as well as won Richard Buzaglo completing proceedings by hitting Karen Sadhwani for six in the 37th. over. Orfila and Skinner claimed two scalps each.

GCC STROLL TO A COMFORTABLE WIN.

GCC won the toss on Sunday at the Europa Oval and lost the wicket of Ian Farrell with 32 runs on the board. Kieron Ferrary and Christian Rocca then featured in a second wicket partnership of 106 before the former was adjudged leg before just after reaching his third half century in as many matches. There was to be no respite for the Combined Colleges bowlers, however, as Rocca continued to find the form which has eluded him for some time now, and Steven Gonzalez supported him admirably. The total had passed the 200 mark in only the 27th. over when Rocca was caught one short of his century. The last seven GCC batsmen all failed to get into double figures, but Gonzalez raced to an individual score of 70 to enable his side to reach the impressive total of 274. Nushan Alwis returned fine figures of 6/35 in otherwise sorry looking bowling figures.

Brothers Paul and Chris Harris gave their side an excellent start with a stand of 99 before the entry of Gary De’Ath transformed the whole complexion of the game. He had Paul Harris splendidly stumped by Ferrary for 64 and then proceeded to claim three further victims, including that of the other Harris, to put the result of the match beyond all doubt. Abdul Waheed struck a few blows towards the end to reach a personal 31, but by then the match was beyond the boys from the Costa who ended on 182/8 when the allotted forty overs had been bowled. De’Ath finished with the magnificent figures of 4/18.

Next Week.

Gibraltar welcomes yet another visiting side from the United Kingdom next Saturday, West End Esher CC (pictured) from the Surrey region. The game is scheduled for the Europa Oval starting at 12.30pm.

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