May 2007 - Ibiza Welcome Springwood CC

Last week Ibiza Cricket Club welcomed Springwood CC of Kings Lynn for two hard fought games of 35 overs cricket. On Tuesday the tourists won the toss and asked Ibiza to bat. Opening partnership of Adam Johnston and Peter Collins put on 61 for the first wicket before Collins was removed for 18, caught and bowled by Roshan. Ibiza were then 64 for 2, Bob Short adding just a single before being caught on the boundary top edging his second ball. Luckily for Ibiza Adam Johnston was seeing the ball superbly and after getting his eye in looked to be going nowhere as he raced to his half century. Springwood’s tight bowling was really frustrating Ibiza and Ian Gourlay scored 15 before being run out after taking a suicidal run directly to mid off, Martin Cooper also added a quick 15 and then Andy Brader scored 24 runs off 13 balls with a lovely cameo but the innings belonged to Ibiza’s Johnston who ended on an unbeaten 125 including 7 fours and 11 sixes. Ibiza’s total of 232 for 6 looked to be very competitive with Springwood’s Roshan returning bowling figures of 1 for 15 off his 7 overs. In reply Springwood lost a wicket in the first over, Jim Harvey bowling Watson with just 5 on the board, before the visitors added 65 for the 2nd wicket, Stuart Browne bowling McNeill with a peach of a ball to reduce them to 70 for 2. Springwood, however had strength in depth taking the Ibiza bowlers on and reducing the arrears bit by bit. After Browne got rid of Perrin, caught by Ryan Way, Springwood’s star man – Roshan from Sri Lanka – came to the crease and hit a superb 51 including 7 fours and 3 sixes. He was only removed by a good catch on the boundary by Martin Makepeace off the bowling of Harvey but by this time the visitors were 167 for 4 and more attacking batting saw Springwood home by 5 wickets with just 6 balls to spare, Ibiza’s bowling coming up just short in a match that will live long in the memory.

On Thursday, Ibiza’s captain Martin ‘Shaggy’ Makepeace lost his forth consecutive toss as the home side were again put into bat by the visitors who seemed to be taking it more seriously then they were prepared to acknowledge. Ibiza’s top pair of Adam Johnston and Bob ‘The Vicar’ Short were sent out to try and get the team off to a flyer. They looked to be well set adding 51 runs before Johnston was bowled for 26 by a gem from Springwood’s Hayes. Andy ‘Kiwi’ Davies went in at number 3 for his competitive debut and looked to be in antipodean heaven as he notched a maiden half century with a class knock of 53, nonchalantly hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes. Jim Harvey scored a swashbuckling 33 including 3 consecutive sixes off the first three ball of the last over but Ibiza’s main man Bob Short came up with the goods carrying his bat for 2 hours through the entire 35 overs. The crowd rose to give him a standing ovation as he finished with 144 not out including 13 fours and 8 sixes which made a huge contribution to Ibiza’s total of 283 for 4. Large totals put the chasing team under pressure to keep up with the run rate so tight bowling was called for and Ibiza’s bowlers did not disappoint with Ryan Way striking twice in the second over. Springwood were then reduced further to 39 for 3 before a 94 run stand between Roshan and Wilson gave the visitors a lifeline. Wilson was then caught by Makepeace off the excellent Ryan Way to bring Beck to the wicket. Roshan and Beck are Springwood’s equivalent of Ibiza’s Johnston and Short so Ibiza knew that they had to send these pair back to the pavilion to have a chance. Step forward Bob Short whose slow right arm spin had Springwood in all sorts of bother. When he trapped Roshan in front of the stumps Ibiza felt they were nearly home and by then Beck had already followed him, caught Harvey bowled Makepeace. Springwood were eventually all out for 220, Ibiza winning by 63 runs. Ibiza’s top bowlers were Ryan Way with 3 for 32 and Bob Short whose amazing innings was complemented by bowling figures of 3 for 19 off 5 overs – a true Man of the Match performance. Overall, one game all was a very fair reflection of the week’s cricket. Springwood CC are a fantastic cricket team and a great bunch of lads who are also big fans of Ibiza. It shows you how far Ibiza Cricket Club has come over the last few years that they can truly compete and also beat a team of this calibre. Ibiza CC looks forward to receiving Springwood CC again in the future.