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Ireland International Matches
Ireland beat Gibraltar by 8 wickets
European Championships, Koge, 18 July 1996
Scorecard
Derek Scott

To reach the final Ireland played and had to beat Gibraltar after a rest day. Heasley and McCrum were rested to let in Harrison and McCallan. Gibraltar made 91 in 38.5 overs. The runs were hit off in 11.4 overs! The neat Koge ground was bathed in sunshine for the best weather of the Tournament so far.

Gibraltar elected to bat. Robeson and Churuman began well. Eagleson and Patterson bowled eight wides in the first 10 overs and there were five other extras. Graham replaced Patterson and saw Robeson (6) missed by Rutherford in his first over. Then Eagleson caught and bowled Churuman waist high. 31-1-7. Tim Buzaglo, son of Joe, ICC Associates' Chairman, arrived but he lost Robeson at 43. Patterson had returned for Eagleson. Robeson sliced to Doak at cover and he took the catch moving back. 43-2-17. R Buzaglo joined his brother but Patterson hit the bottom of Tim's off stump in his next over. Rocca joined R Buzaglo and 20 more were added in just over five overs, 50 arriving in over 18.

At 65 a real collapse began and seven wickets went down for 26 runs. Graham in his 8th and 9th overs dismissed Rocca lbw trying to pull at 65 and R Buzaglo lobbed a lifter to short leg at 66. Without addition Johnston was caught by Rutherford off Harrison. Doak took the last four wickets in 5.5 overs, two lbw and two caught and bowled. The last pair actually put on 12, so the scoreboard ran from 65 for three to 79 for nine to 91 all out. All five bowlers took at least one wicket and Doak had four for seven.

Curry gave a chance to slip in Brooks 's first over and A Patterson gave mid-on a chance in Churuman's second over. 16 was up in 5 overs. Then both players began to score quickly. Patterson hit three successive fours off Brooks. Curry hit a six in Churuman's next over from which 13 came. 50 arrived after eight overs. Patterson hit two more fours in Churuman's next over but also got out. He sliced to deep extra cover where T Buzaglo took a brilliant diving catch two handed to his right. 60-1-22.

Garcia, a leg spinner, came on. Curry hit him for two sixes and a four and the second six brought Curry to 50. In the same over he cross batted a drive to short extra cover. His 50 came in 41 balls with three sixes and three fours. Two overs later the match was over. Benson hit Garcia for a two and a four to bring the scores level. The next ball went for six. McCallan, at number three, had been in while 37 were scored but only faced five balls to score a three not out.

Curry was Man-of-the-Match. Garcia had bowled only 10 balls and took one for 33!