Italy's EIS cup continues (4 Aug 1999)

2 August 1999

Italy's EIS cup continues

Pianoro Tecnessenze has retained the EIS Cup winning its fourth championship on the trot, the fifth in six years, and thus displacing the legendary Euratom team of the early eighties as the club who has won most pennants.

Victory over Capannelle in Game Two was much easier than in the first match despite turning out one man short. After the Roman team had raced to 50/0 after six overs thanks to some audacious pinch hitting by Deane (37), Pianoro gradually gained control of the game bowling out the home side for 153 in 48 overs mainly thanks to excellent bowling by Ramanayake (4/37), De Mel (2/20) and Ciappina (2/44).

No worries for Pianoro in their reply thanks to 80 run third wicket partnertship by their usual opening pair, put down the order to make roomfor the pinch hitters, of Jayasena (58) and Andrea Parisi (17).

Capannelle Sharp (153) loses to Pianoro Tecnessenze (154/5) by five wickets.

On to the European under 19 championship in Belfast and a creditable performance by the young Italians who finished second in Group B and seventh overall in the tournament.

The event was not devoid of early drama culminating in France's exclusion due to the fact that they wanted to field a young girl in what was understood, but not stated by the rules, to be a male competition.

This meant a three team Group B with Gibraltar, Italy and Germany playing each other twice and ending in the above reported order. Gibraltar were clearly the strongest side and disposed easily of the two opponents with bad weather not allowing them to a complete a clean sweep against Italy in the second encounter.

In turn the Azzurrini beat the young Germans twice. A few hiccups occurred in a remarkable first encounter. Germany scored 85, Rech 3/11, thanks to a generous concession of wides by Italy, 43. Following this, the Latin batsmen decided to make a game of it losing wickets every time the match looked to be all but dead and, in the end running out winners by four wickets.

Game two was much more straightforward with Italy scoring 138 off 41overs, batting the full quota of 50 still looks beyond the young Italians, mainly thanks to Smith, 54 not out, and skipper Dias, 30. The captain then produced a remarkable bowling spell of 3/2 to inspire his team to dismissing the opponents for a paltry 46 in 30 overs. Rech, 3/5, Sarnelli 2/12 and Mazzoncini 2/14 shared the other wickets.

Next event: Italy's tour of England from August 8th to 22nd.