The Italian season is nearing its climax in engrossing fashion. (10 Jul 1999)

9 July 1999

The Italian season is nearing its climax in engrossing fashion.

Pianoro has taken a 1 - 0 lead in the best of three final against Capannelle winning a nail biting match by 16 runs.

We had left the defending champions on their way to Northern Ireland where they had a miserable time at the European Clubs Festival in Northern Ireland. Winners in 1995 and semifinalists in 1996, Pianoro performed abysmally, fully deserving the wooden spoon. Excuses like not fielding their best team do not stand on their feet after stating in the preceding months that the Festival and not the Championship was the real objective of the 1999 season.

In the meantime Capannelle beat Bologna in the rubber match to challenge Pianoro for the 1999 EIS Cup. The team from the Roman hyppodrome duly completed its coming from behind act in Game Three of what will be remembered as the most acrimonious series in the brief history of Italian cricket.

As in the first two matches it was Bologna who batted first and struggled. Captain Khalim promoted himself ahead of Akhlaq, who had practically sustained Bologna's batting efforts single handed in the first two matches, and performed well scoring 72 but getting himself out just when Akhlaq had come in at number 11. Remember in Italy foreign players can only bat together when all the Italians are out and Bologna used their third foreigner, Aftab, to open the innings. The final outcome of the innings 147.

Chasing 148, Capannelle looked to be cruising at 63/0 (Deane 35 not out, Zito 20 not out) when the heavens opened at the end of the 20th over. Fortune has it that 20 is the minimal number of overs required in the 2nd innings to guarantee a result. This meant Capannelle's run rate 3.15 was the deciding factor as opposed to Bologna's 2.94.

With Darrell Hair officiating Game One of the final series started at the shadeless Rastignano Oval where Pianoro have never been beaten since the ground's opening in 1997.

After only five balls Capannelle lost their opening bowler Cooray to an ankle injury: a double blow, this, to the Roman team's chances as it left not only a bowler short but, more important, with only ten fielders, no substitute having been brought to the game. Despite this Capannelle reacted well and thanks to tight bowling by Deane (2/19) and Da Costa (2/34) reduced Pianoro to 73/6. The home team's innings was rescued by Ramanayake (56 n.o.), one of those who did not take part in the disastrous Irish expedition. Rotating cleverly the strike he managed to raise the final total to a respectable 165.

Capannelle looked extremely well placed at 99/2 at the start of the 30th over. However, the return of Ciappina (3/30) changed the equilibrium of the match breaking the 80 run partnership between Bet (43) and Deane (36), that looked to be deciding the outcome of the game. Slowly but decisively, Pianoro regained the initiative, setting aside the memories of their Irish hangover and surviving a desperate final assault by Da Costa, thus winning the game more through the demerits of their opponents than through their own ability.