Surprise in Italy as Sicillian team shoots to top of Southern group
Tony Munro - 8 May 1999

The first two rounds of Italy's European Incoming Services Cup have not been short of surprises.

In essence, Murri Catania, one of the new cricket teams from Sicily has shocked the whole set up by running away with the lead in the Southern group. Skippered by Italian international Riccardo Maggio, and relying heavily on Pakistani all rounder Alaudin and Englishman Andy Searson, sent to Sicily by MCC for a year's coaching, Murri won a dramatic contest in the opening round over Lazio, Maggio's former team, by only 7 runs with the Roman team, fielding no less than nine under 19s, collapsing dramatically from 95/6 to 106 all out in pursuit of 114. In the other game in the group, Capannelle easily disposed of Maremma Grosseto by 8 wickets with former Italian internationals Peter Bonapace (5/21) and Filippo Zito (30) trying to impress national coach Doug Ferguson, present at the match.

Round two saw Lazio's resurrection over local rivals Capannelle in the 31st encounter between the two teams. After 17 year old Italo - South African Dino Rech (5/17) had caused Capannelle's capitulation for 102, skipper Andrea Amati (17 no) played a watchful knock in support of Sriantha Weerasinghe, whose unbeaten 56 proved decisive in such a low scoring contest. This result paved the way for Murri taking the overall lead with an easy win over a Grosseto team in complete disarray. The home side having been bowled out for a meagre 60 (Alaudin 7/27), the visitors knocked the runs off for the loss of 3 wickets (Searson 30 not out). Table after two rounds: Murri 33, Lazio 25, Capannelle 22, Maremma 2.

Things went much more accordingly to expectations in the Northern group. The opening round saw the two Bolognese teams record easy wins. Champions Pianoro travelled to Trento to show the locals how big is still the gap between the two sides despite Trento's spree on the transfer market during the winter. Bowling out their opponents for 99, the Champions knocked the runs off for the loss of 4 wickets. Last year's runners up Bologna literally massacred Galatea from Sicily. Italian internationals Akhlaq Qureshi (130) and Christian Pippo (80) featured in a 200 run second wicket partnership which sealed the match beyond any doubt, the visitors subsequently being bowled out for only 46 in reply to Bologna's huge 361.

The second round saw Trentino recover some pride and hope by travelling to Sicily and easily disposing of Galatea by seven wickets, the target required being 47, whilst the local Bologna derby saw the team from the city recover from a difficult start, 22/3, to eventually set Pianoro 149 mainly thanks to a dour 82 by skipper Khalim Khan. The Champions, however, found no great difficulties in achieving the required score with Italian international Samantha De Mel (58) and skipper Andrea Pezzi (39) providing the winning partnership. Table after two rounds: Pianoro 40, Bologna 23, Trentino 21, Galatea 4.