Sporting Alfas, the Espannol League Champions ended Sutton’s hopes of a trio of cup wins in Spain with a convincing win at the Columbus Oval, in Albir.

In sunny, blazing hot conditions, with temperatures hitting as high as 25C, Sutton started their tour with a friendly against Alfa’s midweek team, XL Club of Spain.  The Sutton opening batsmen got straight to work after winning the toss, with 31 runs scored after just 3 overs. Skipper John Lambe creamed some superb cover drives and John Fry (48), looked in good touch in his first game after his knee operation. The opening pair added 112 for the first wicket in a typical aggressive and fluent fashion. The introduction of Alfas’ Curness 2/54 and Howden 1/57 did not stem the runs, but they both eventually broke the fruitful opening partnership, with Howden having Fry caught at short extra cover. John Lambe (90) looked poised to reach his century but once again on this trip, he got too ambitious and tried to drive Curness high and away, but only succeeded in getting himself stumped.

Sutton continued to dominate with the bat as runs flowed easily in the sunshine. Another big stand soon erupted, this time between Russell Coombe and Paul Liddiard (40 not out), who between them put on a productive 117 run partnership in as little as 89 balls. Russell Coombe played a neat and compact knock with some crisp shots all over the ground. He reached a personal landmark for him by scoring his maiden century for Sutton with some inventive shots towards the end, as Sutton pushed on and declared with a rather healthy 291 for 3 off 42.2 overs.

In reply, XL Club lost wickets early, with D.Lewis 2/26 removing both openers cheaply. The luckless Spencer Champ, bowled well enough to get wickets in the opening stages but Sutton’s fielders spilled some chances.

XL Club made Sutton toil hard in the warm late afternoon sunshine, as the home side plodded their way to a safe and secure position. A. Metz (2/15) struck late on with an electric spell when he removed danger man Stanfield (65) with a well pitched up delivery.

XL Club though batted out the remaining overs with the only real joy for Sutton was when Paul Eldridge grabbed his first wicket for Sutton by bowling Braithwaite in the final stages of the game. XL Club closed on 158 for 4 and the opening tour match was drawn.

After the friendly game under Sutton’s belt, the tourists went into the Valencian Cup match confident they could retain the Spanish pot for a third time.

Alfas won the toss and surprisingly bowled first and their decision was soon justified as Sutton looked under pressure in the first few overs. Faran, with his probing length and whippy style bowling action made the first breakthrough when he got skipper Lambe out, caught behind, with a delivery, which seamed away nicely.

Sutton, started to look a little more comfortable through Chris Thomas(20), who crashed some thumping boundaries, but when he misjudged a ball from Spanish international Sam Lupson (1/32) and was clean bowled offering no stroke, Sutton began to look a little fragile.

Then, the introduction of the slow bowlers by the Alfas captain proved a massive moment in the game.  Alfas, slow left-arm bowler and ex Notts County pro, Paul Taylor(2/14), playing on his 69^th Birthday proved decisive for the home team. He outfoxed and unsettled the Sutton top order with his uncanny style of bowling. John Fry (18), who struggled for the most part of his innings got a little frustrated and was stumped when looking to drive Taylor away down the ground. Paul Taylor, almost had R.Coombe out twice, when the Sutton batsman survived a missed stumping and was dropped at short mid-wicket. It was third time lucky though for Taylor, when he eventually had R.Coombe caught at short mid-wicket after the Sutton batsman mistimed his shot and fell in relatively the same fashion as his team mates.

Alfas, then began to turn the screw, when another slow bowler C.Munoz ripped through Sutton’s middle-order, D.Lewis (27) played some positive shots, but when he was out stumped off Munoz it signalled the collapse and the last 4 wickets fell for 25 runs and Sutton made a below par 137/9 off the allotted 40 overs.

The Alfas openers wasted no time in the small run chase and although Sutton spilled some chances they simply destroyed the Sutton bowling attack. A.Shafiq was dropped at mid-wicket when only on (6), and then made Sutton pay, with some ruthless, hard hitting shots in a knock, which included seven boundaries and five huge sixes.

Sutton eventually dismissed A.Safiq when he was out LBW trying to sweep C.Thomas through midwicket. P.Pennick 41 not out and Wasim 20 not out eased Alfas home to glory in under 20 overs as they romped to victory and Sutton saw their 2 year run on the Valencain Cup come to an end.

Sutton came back fighting and almost won the last game, which ended in a tense and close finish on the Sunday.

In the hottest day of the tour, Sutton was asked to field and had mixed fortunes in the field. Clive Quinton (1/31) bowled well in a fine spell and Andy Siefers (3/35) kept Alfas Sunday XI at bay with his well controlled bowling. But C.Munoz(82) not out and I.Macinnes (38) made the most of some sloppy fielding and at times untidy bowling, as Sutton sweated it out in the field. A.Metz (2/40) pegged Alfas , but the home side had forged an impressive 229 for 9 at tea off the 40 overs.

The tourists replied shakily and when skipper Paul Eldridge fell chasing a wide delivery, Sutton looked on the back foot. Paul Liddiard (71) continued his impressive tour form and immediately got stuck into the Alfas bowlers. He struck 15 sweetly timed boundaries alongside Matt Lewis (30) that grinded out a sturdy knock and together they put on a useful 97 run partnership in 89 balls as Sutton climbed up to the required run rate in pursuit of the total.

The match though swung quickly back to Alfas when both fell relatively quickly. Paul Liddiard being run out in a mix up between A. Metz., who made a mends when he charged the Alfas spinners all over the Columbus Oval ground. He and S.Champ (26) got Sutton to within sight of victory. S.Champ though edged behind off the teasing bowling from B Seekings and Alfas were in charge as the runs dried up and with 9 overs remaining Sutton needed 49 runs to win.  Sutton though hit back in the last few overs with A.Siefers, striking some useful quick flourishing boundaries. When he was run out in another mix-up and A.Metz falling with one too many adventurous shot in the space of 7 balls Sutton were almost beaten. P.Stratford and C.Quinton made a brave effort in the last few balls, but Sutton fell 5 runs short of their target but had ended their tour with high spirits.

Eldo.