After a bracing xxx from their defeat at the hands of the RAF touring side in March, the Cyprus team knew they must step up a l

CYPRUS v MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE

After a bracing reevaluation following their defeats in March at the hands of the RAF touring side, the Cyprus team knew they must step up a level if they are going to compete against these very good touring sides now visiting from the UK.

It is to Cyprus credit that teams playing a higher standard cricket are coming to play here as the reputation of Cyprus cricket spreads. But the challenge for the national team to grow in tandem is raising the bar for all the Cyprus players.

Myerscough are a very good UK side. They are mostly under 17 but represent the best youth players from the county of Lancashire, one of the proudest cricketing areas in the UK.

The Cyprus national team fielded two different sides on Saturday and Sunday, taking this opportunity to look at all of the players eligible to play for Cyprus in the European Championships in September.

In the Saturday game Cyprus choose to bat first. When Khan, normally the lynchpin of of Cyprus innings was bowled by the very speedy Luke Dukitt in the third over, the omens were not auspicious. Anil (20) forged a rebuilding partnership with Andy Mulkhern before he was caught in the 12 th over off Luke Durkan. Fellow Amdocs player Amit (35) took over his role in the partnership taking Cyprus past the half century. But battling for every run against a persistent, varied and accurate bowling attack was crippling the run rate, Cyprus scoring at only 3 an over. When Cyprus tried to beak away they lost a wicket forcing them back on the defensive. Three quarters through the game with only 120 runs scored Cyprus seemd to be once again putting pressure on their bowlers to make up for their shortcomings with the bat. However a flurry of boundaries from no 7 Gill (41) relieved the pressure somewhat, dragging the total up to a respectful and defendable 180. Luke Durkhan and spinner Oliver Law shared three wickets apiece.

Gill on a rescue mission

Myerscough batting proved to be as efficient as their bowling. Offering a brief ray of hope when Mullins was lbw to Mike Kyriacou in the 5 th over, Laurance (39) and Sunderland (33) calmly set about the rather samey Cyprus medium pace bowling. When the attacker in the partnership Laurance fell to Robel in the 14^th over he was replaced by the even more attacking O.J.Law, who made even shorter shrift of Cyprus bowling.

OJ Law on a charge

15 overs later, on 68 not out, supported by Brown ( 23), he had eased Myerscough over the line, 183 for the loss of only 4 wickets.

Cyprus batting – Anil 20, Khan0, Andy M 7, Amit 35, Rubel 1, Mike K 12, Gill 41, Matti 1, Sunil 3, Ali 17*, George 0.

Myerscough bowling – Luke Dukitt 6-20-1, Matt Hodson 6-27-1,Liam Mason 7-29-0, Luke Durkan 5-13-3, Oliver Law 5-21-3, Jake Farrow 6.5-40-3, Usman Arit4-24-0

Myerscough batting – T.Laurance 3, T Mulllns 5, A Sunderland 33, O J Law 68*, R Brown 23, M Littles 2*.

Cyprus bowling – Mike K 7-37-1, George P 2-20-0, Gill 4-17-0, Matti 3-18-0, Rubel 8-34-2, Amit 2-10-0, Khan 3-19-0, Sunil 3-25-0.

In the second game played the next day, Cyprus once again batted first, this time at the request of Myerscough. A similar start to Saturdays innings, saw opener Niroshan out without scoring. No 3 Manju set about a repair job with Danuka (12) , and then with Udumulle (11) and Kashif (17), and although all the partnerships promised more, all eventually fell short. Manju, however, built an innings of application and power, to take him to 80 when he was bowled by Matt Hodson.

Manju frustrates Myerscough bowling

Partner Kapila went on with the middle order before he fell to Jones for 34. A late attack from the tail added some quick runs taking Cyprus onto 212 from 44 overs.

Buoyed by a respectable score, but wary of Myerscoughs batting ability, lessons learned in their first game, Cyprus took the field with a bounce in their step. But the optimism was not to last long. Left hand opener Laurance set about the bowling, seeming to take a liking to captain Mike Kyriacous bowling in particular. Niroshan, Kapila, Kashif and Udumulle, applied the breaks but no-one managed to contain him.

Laurance dismissing Cyprus attack

At the other end Mullins (54) was only just a pace behind, as together they made good bowling look ordinary. When Kapila had Mullins stumped in the 33^rd over the score was 160 and Myerscough needed only 50 more runs. Laurance went on to make an effortless century, risk free and untroubled, as he took his team to victory in the 43rd over.

Laurance 113 no

Cyprus batting- Danuka 12, Niroshan 0, Manju 80, Udumulle 11, Kashif 17, Kapila 34, Sarwar 2, Sampath 10, Nalaga 1, Mike K 13, Bhatti 1*.

Myerscough bowling – Luke Dukitt 7-18-3, Matt Hodson 8-45-1, Tailor 3-11-0, Jones 8-34-3, Hardman 10-40-1, O J Law 3-25-0, Laurance 2-10-0, Adam Sunderland 2.5-14-2.

Myerscough batting_ Laurance 113, Mullins 54, Sunderland 7, O J Law 5, Brown 5, Litler 0.

Cyprus bowling – Mike K 3-38-0, Niroshan 8-40-0,Manju 3-16-0, Kashif 8-34-3, Kapila 9-38-2, Udumulle 7-22-0, Sampath 2-15-0, Bahti 2-10-0.

Cyprus may have lost both games but this weekend has been very profitable for the Cyprus team. Bowlers have had to find ways to contain very good batsmen, and batters have had to work for their runs against very good bowlers. Each one will have been forced to analyse his strengths and his weaknesses.

The chance to improve comes with the arrival of Cyprus coach, Terry Holt, this week, for some intensive training sessions with the Cyprus national players. As well as his experience as manager of the indoor cricket school at Lancashire CC, Terry Holt is coach to Myerscough, who have already taught Cyprus a lesson.