Italy: Three for one play off place
With only the last preliminary round left, three teams still hope to conquer the last playoff berth which looks likely to be decided by the direct match between Trentino and Murri Catania, currently lying fifth and sixth and separated only by one
26-Jun-2000
With only the last preliminary round left, three teams still hope to conquer the
last playoff berth which looks likely to be decided by the direct match between
Trentino and Murri Catania, currently lying fifth and sixth and separated only
by one point. Lazio, fourth but with no games left, can only hope in a miracle
from the weather.
Round seven registered shock defeats for both Capannelle and Pianoro. The team
from the Hippodrome went down to archrivals Lazio in a high scoring local derby.
At 150/2 after 25 overs, Capannelle were crusing and must have been hoping for
something better than their eventual final score of 270. The Italo/Western
Province pair of Bonora (111 not out) and Corbellari (81) gave Lazio a cracking
start with an opening stand of 134 in 18 overs from which victory was achieved
at a canter.
Meanwhile the biggest upset in the twenty year history of Italian cricket was taking place in Catania where Murri led by Sri Lankan Ponnaperumage
(153) and Pakistan Alaud (4/23) demolished defending champions Pianoro by 102
runs. Murri's victory giving them a perfect home record of 80 points out four
games. Trentino re-entered the play off picture massacring Roma thanks to a
century by Englishman Bateman whilst Maremma, led by skipper Gamini's first ton,
restored some damaged pride against wooden spoonists Galatea.
Last Sunday's penultimate round saw Pianoro win by 13 runs the top of the table
clash with Capannelle, thus gaining home field advantage throughout the
playoffs, mainly thanks to an excellent all round performance by Jayasena (83 &
4/18). Lazio continued their end of season late, too late probably, rush with a
10 wicket cleansweep of Murri in which skipper Corbellari ( 5/17 & 41 not out)
played the prime role. Trentino's win in Grosseto, on the same ground they
conquered the Italian Cup two months ago, makes them hot favorites for the last
playoff berth with Bologna having virtually guaranteed itself of third spot with
a good recovery against Roma, 32/5 chasing 157 being transformed into a 5 wicket
victory by an undefeated 6th wicket partnership between Shiva (79) and sixteen
year old Kelum Perera (23).
TABLE P W L Batting Bowling POINTS
Tecnessenze Pianoro 7 6 1 25 27 124
Capannelle Sharp 7 5 2 26 25 111
Bologna Web Italia 7 5 2 21 23 104
Multiservice Lazio 8 4 4 25 27 100
Trentino 7 4 3 21 21 90
Murri Oasi del Simeto 7 4 3 17 24 89
Maremma Grosseto 7 2 5 17 20 61
Roma+ 7 2 5 15 17 50
Galatea Riviera dei Ciclopi* 7 0 7 3 11 11
*Galatea: 3 points deducted for playing one man short vs Trentino on May 14
+Roma: 6 points deducted for not playing vs Murri on May 28