Gibraltar’s Cricket Continental Cup Journey: Triumphs, Trials, and Ultimate Heartbreak

Ilfov County, Romania - The Cricket Continental Cup saw four teams - Gibraltar, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria – clashing at the Moara Vlasiei Cricket Ground. The tournament, which took place from May 24 to May 26, 2024, was a whirlwind of intense matches with Gibraltar coming away with very significant positives which set them on course for July’s World Cup Qualifiers. Despite a valiant effort, Gibraltar’s campaign ended in heartache, falling short in the final against a dominant Hungary. However, their second placed standing with Samarth Bodha as top wicket taker and Chris Pyle third ranked run scorer in the tournament providing promising stats for Gibraltar.

Match 1: Gibraltar vs Bulgaria
Gibraltar’s tournament kicked off with a thrilling match against Bulgaria. Electing to field first, Gibraltar faced a challenging target as Bulgaria posted 174/7 in their 20 overs. Notable contributions from Dimo Nikolov (42 off 28) and Isa Zaroo (24 off 19) propelled Bulgaria to a competitive score.
Gibraltar’s bowlers had mixed fortunes, with Louis Bruce taking 3 wickets for 42 runs and Avinash Pai chipping in with 1/42. However, it was the fielding efforts and two critical catches by Pai that stood out.
Chasing 175, Gibraltar’s innings was anchored by Avinash Pai, whose all-round brilliance shone through. Pai’s 53 off 45 balls, combined with Chris Pyle’s brisk 28, set the foundation. The chase went down to the wire, with Matthew Whelan’s 19 off 11 sealing the victory off the final ball. Gibraltar triumphed by 5 wickets, with Pai deservingly named Player of the Match.

Match 2: Gibraltar vs Hungary
Buoyed by their opening win, Gibraltar faced Hungary next. This encounter, however, highlighted the volatile nature of T20 cricket. Gibraltar struggled to find momentum, posting 137/6, hampered by the loss of key batsman Avinash Pai, who retired hurt after scoring just 1 run.
Matthew Whelan’s late surge (34 off 17) gave Gibraltar a fighting chance. Hungary’s response was ruthless, led by a masterful century from Vinoth Ravindran (100 off 59). Hungary chased down the target with ease, winning by 9 wickets with 20 balls to spare. Ravindran’s commanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

Match 3: Gibraltar vs Romania
Needing a win to stay in contention, Gibraltar faced Romania in a must-win game. Romania batted first and put up a formidable 168/8, with Anand Rajshekara top-scoring with 50 off 42 balls. Gibraltar’s Samarth Bodha delivered a stellar bowling performance, claiming 5/16 and keeping Romania’s total in check.
Gibraltar’s chase mirrored their tenacity. Chris Pyle’s steady 47 and Louis Bruce’s unbeaten 71 guided them through a nervy innings. Bruce’s composed knock under pressure was crucial, and James Fitzgerald’s 20 off 10 provided the finishing touches. Gibraltar clinched victory off the final ball once again, winning by 6 wickets, with Bodha named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul.

The Final: Gibraltar vs Hungary
The final saw Gibraltar facing Hungary once more, with the stakes at their highest. Gibraltar batted first, posting 150/8, a total largely built on James Fitzgerald’s explosive 38 off 19 and solid contributions from Iain Latin (30) and Kabir Mirpuri (31). However, Hungary’s bowlers, particularly Sheikh Rasik (1/14 off 4 overs), kept Gibraltar in check.
Hungary’s chase was spearheaded by Rasik’s breathtaking 69 not out off 31 balls. Supported by Vinoth Ravindran’s quick 26, Hungary reached the target in just 12.5 overs, winning by 8 wickets. Rasik’s all-round display earned him the Player of the Match accolade, sealing Hungary’s triumph in emphatic fashion.
The Continental Cup allowed Gibraltar to continue showcasing the spirit and skill as one of the emerging cricketing nations. Gibraltar’s journey was marked by moments of brilliance, resilience, and dramatic finishes. Despite their final defeat, Gibraltar’s players, particularly Avinash Pai, Samarth Bodha, and Louis Bruce, left a lasting impression. The tournament a great preparation for the Gibraltar team before this July’s World Cup qualifiers.

World Cup Qualifiers

Qualifier B
Group B

Germany
Gibraltar
Norway
Slovenia
Sweden

First match(es) will be played: 7 July 2024.

Match Schedule
7 July 2024
Germany vs. Gibraltar
Location: Gelsenkirchen

7 July 2024
Norway vs. Sweden
Location: Gelsenkirchen

8 July 2024
Norway vs. Slovenia
Location: Bayer Uerdingen Cricket Ground, Krefeld

8 July 2024
Germany vs. Sweden
Location: Bayer Uerdingen Cricket Ground, Krefeld

10 July 2024
Germany vs. Norway
Location: Gelsenkirchen

10 July 2024
Gibraltar vs. Slovenia
Location: Gelsenkirchen

11 July 2024
Gibraltar vs. Sweden
Location: Bayer Uerdingen Cricket Ground, Krefeld

11 July 2024
Germany vs. Slovenia
Location: Bayer Uerdingen Cricket Ground, Krefeld

13 July 2024
Gibraltar vs. Norway
Location: Gelsenkirchen

13 July 2024
Slovenia vs. Sweden
Location: Gelsenkirchen

Gibraltar cricket was to get its mention on BBC last week with Wicketkeeper Sally Barton making the headlines as the oldest ever international cricketer.
The grandmother of three plans to “play as long as possible” after recently becoming the oldest ever international cricketer reported BBC.com.
Sally Barton made her debut in Gibraltar’s second T20 international against Estonia at the age of 66. The previous record was held by Portugal’s Akbar Saiyad.