Cricket Club Sofia

1st Sep 2018 - National Sports Acad
Lost by 10 wickets - NRR = -2.42

The CIPA ITMA cricket team arrived at the National Sports Academy in Sofia in prime shape for their game against Cricket Club Sofia. The pre-match preparation had been better than normal, with most players having managed a healthy combination of sleep and breakfast. Only the unusual 10am start could present any real problems.

The pitch looked flat and artificial and with very few holes. Captain Andy Spurr had no hesitation on winning the toss to elect to bat first. The longer 35 overs format would allow the CIPA stroke makers chance to play themselves in and build a competitive total.

Regular opener Justin Wilson strode out to the middle with Stuart Lumsden, promoted up the order based on an arrival 24 hours behind the rest of the squad.

After a cautious start, Wilson seized on a wide delivery and smashed it through extra cover. Much to his surprise, a catch was snaffled by a fielder who appeared to be paying no attention. Wilson departed for a meagre 4, although that would prove to be surprisingly respectable. John Hull strode out to the middle and strode back shortly afterwards, having guided a wide delivery onto his stumps for a duck.

Bruce Torrance and Lumsden then started a rebuilding job. Just as the ship was starting to steady, Torrance top-edged a sharp lifter to offer a return catch to a pacy antipodean import.

At this stage, things started to get ugly. Rob Jackson and James Duffy also departed for ducks, both bowled. Lumsden went soon afterwards for a well made 40, also bowled. Mark Dean was bowled soon afterwards to bring up the quartet of CIPA ducks.

Some late nudging from Chris Milton (8), Spurr (6), Dave Prothero (6) and Andy Grant (2 not out) dragged the score towards three figures, but in the end we fell marginally short on 99 all out. It transpired that preparations had not covered playing out a full 35 overs, as 10 overs remained left behind.

Still, on a pitch that was a little two paced with some balls keeping low, CIPA still had a chance. Spurr and Grant opened the bowling with a tight spell. Unfortunately, a few edges and mishits didn’t quite go to hand or went to ground and momentum started to turn to Sofia.

With a change of bowling, the Sofia openers began to up the run rate. Wilson and Duffy couldn’t maintain the pressure or make the breakthrough, Duffy nudging his tour bowling average over the 140 mark. As one of the openers opened his shoulders and attempted to hit everything out of park, a Duffy delivery finally went to hand. A gentle inside edge lobbed to short fine leg, where Milton declined to take the easiest chance in CIPA touring history. The gallant batsman retired anyway.

After that, it was a short procession for Sofia to rattle up the remaining runs. Milton and Lumsden offered some eccentric bowling to speed up the proceedings, with Prothero’s tidy over not able to make the difference.

A mere 13.5 overs after they had started, the 100 was up and the game was over. CIPA returned to the pavilion to lick their wounds and prepare for the next day to make amends.

Batting

Player	Runs scored	How Out	4s	6s	SR
Justin Wilson	1	Caught	0	0	14
Stuart Lumsden	40	Bowled	7	0	62
John Hull		Bowled	0	0	0
Bruce Torrance	20	Caught	4	0	125
Rob Jackson		Bowled	0	0	0
James Duffy		Bowled	0	0	0
Chris Milton	8	Bowled	0	0	44
Mark Dean		Bowled	0	0	0
Andy Spurr	6	Bowled	1	0	86
Dave Prothero	6	Bowled	1	0	100
Andy Grant	2*		0	0	67
Extras	16				-

CIPA - 99 for 10 off 25
Scorebook

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