EUROPEAN UNDER 15 DIV 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS

La Manga in Spain has been the venue, this week, for the European Cricket Council under-15 championships. After six months intensive preparation and fund raising the Cyprus squad was determined to make the most of their first tournament in this age group. Everyone knew that as the new boys Cyprus would face tough competition. This certainly proved to be the case in the first game. Cyprus was to face Belgium, Gibraltar, Guernsey and Spain in the group stages. The first game saw Cyprus facing the group favourites Guernsey who are used to facing English county teams and have the funding to employ full time coaches so it was not surprising that they were able to post a huge total of 279 off their 35 overs with their captain Kirk (really) scoring a century. George Papaonisiforou was the best of the Cyprus bowlers taking 2-41. The team wasnπt disheartened, realising that Guernsey was playing at a different level. The target became to bat for the full 35 overs rather than harbour any thoughts of winning the game. It was therefore a magnificent effort to achieve that goal. Harry Callaway played a real captainπs innings by batting for nearly two hours in making his 37 runs. The team then turned its attention to the next dayπs game against Gibraltar.

Gibraltar batted first and scored 172 for 8. Harry Callaway returning the best bowling figures of 3-34. Their were a few too many wides bowled and the 173 needed to win looked a daunting prospect. A terrific opening partnership of 98 between Alex McCarrick and George Papaonisiforou laid a solid base for the rest of the team to attack the 173 needed to win. George went on to make 58 before being run out, the weariness being understandable, another two hour innings in the heat of southern Spain. In a nail biting finish David Bailey kept his nerve to score 17 not out and steer Cyprus to victory with only 9 balls to spare. All round this was a fantastic team performance which delighted not just the team but also the small but vociferous band of supporters who had made the long journey. Man of the match Papaonisiforou, the media star, went on to give his first of two TV interviews!

Could the momentum created by this win be carried over into the third game in as many days? It certainly seemed possible with Belgium making only 104 from their first 25 overs. Unfortunately some good late batting and slighty wayward bowling allowed the Belgians to reach 172 for 4 by the end of their innings. David Bailey took 2 of the 4 wickets to fall. Having chased down 172 the previous day the batting task was approached with confidence. The Belgian attack though proved to be a sterner test than Gibraltar had offered. None of the top six batsmen really got going and Cyprus found themselves at 38 for 6 after 14 overs. For a time it looked as if an embarrassingly small total was on the cards. Again the team tactics were changed to seeing out the 35 overs. Man of the match Dan Barrett played a patient and dogged innings, ably supported by William Erhartsmann and Josh Keeling to ensure that 35 overs were completed, with the total on 109 for 9.

The final game against Spain will decide which play-off match the team will compete in at the end of the tournament. Whatever happens, it has already been a great experience for the whole team. It has been a learning experience for everyone, but an experience that can only help youth cricket in Cyprus to develop still further. None of this would have been possible without the support of many people in Cyprus who sponsored the players in many different ways, a big thank you to you all from all those involved in Cyprus cricket.

Cyprus went into the last group game of the u-15 Cricket tournament against the hosts Spain knowing that it was possible to finish as high as second or as low as fifth . Spain batted first and made a solid start, reaching 44 before David Bailey removed both openers in quick succession. The heart of Spainπs middle order was ripped out by leg-spinner Tom Mills who took 3-30 from his 7 overs. George Papaonisiforou took two late wickets, leaving Spain on 162 for 8 at the end of their 35 overs. 163 to win was certainly achievable and the steady opening partnership between Alex McCarrick and Papaonisiforou of 42 laid a solid foundation. Unfortunately wickets fell too regularly after that and despite a stylish 17 from David Bailey and a late flurry from Steve Furber (18)the team was only able to make 130 all out.

The other group results meant that Cyprus finished fourth. Germany finished fourth in the other group, so the two teams competed for seventh or eight place overall on the final day of the tournament. Dan Barrett took the first German wicket in the second over but a good partnership developed between the next two batsmen until Tom Mills made the breakthrough bowling the dangerous Singh around his legs when the score was 65. There was some justice in this as a run out appeal had early been turned down but the video evidence filmed by a member of the Cyprus Barmy Army showed that the batsman was well out! Only two other German batsmen made it to double figures but the Cyprus bowlers were doing their job for them. With two runs for a wide, and in the last 7 overs an additional ball as well, it was vital to bowl straight. Germany only scored 86 runs off the bat in their total of 205, the rest largely being made up of wides bowled.

If Cyprus were to win the batsmen would have to post their highest total of the tournament. Michael Hill and David Bailey both scored 20 in the middle order and an excellent 22 not out from William Carr nearly saw the team home. In the end the difference was that the German bowlers bowled slightly tighter and despite scoring more runs of f the bat than Germany Cyprus finished 19 runs short. This was a disappointing end to the tournament, but overall it was an amazing experience for the team in the first youth tournament for Cyprus. All involved can only learn from the experience and the players can all be proud of the way they performed and represented Cyprus. A more detailed analysis of the tournament and a wealth of photos can be found on www.cricketeurope.net