After the strenuous tours to Trento and Prague it was back to the Hirschanger for the BCV T20 semi-final against Serendib who had thrashed us by six wickets in the league. The school summer-holidays were over so we had been able to get some good preparation with a Friday afternoon training session. Captain Weston won the toss and chose to bowl on a slightly damp playing area after some heavy rain during the night. The usual Serendib opening pair of Berenger and Milan Fernando came out to face Blades and Sear as the opening bowlers for MCC. Things started to look good, Berenger falling to Blades off the second ball of the match and Sear following up with a maiden in his first over. After five overs Serendib were 21 for 1 and MCC were happy. Unfortunately thereafter the Serendib batsmen, Fernando and Basit, both began to score regularly and of the remaining 15 overs, eight went for double figures. These two batsmen scored 148 runs between them, Fernando finally falling, caught and bowled to Sear, in the 19th over having hit 120 from 59 balls, including 5 fours and 11 sixes. The captain had tried nine bowlers during the innings, Lovell being the only one not to be asked to bowl apart from the captain/wicket keeper himself. Serendib finished on 177 for 7 from their 20 overs, leaving MCC a little shell shocked but still able to enjoy the splendid tea provided by the non-bowling Lovell.
Weston and Lovell opened the MCC innings and got off to a good start. After five overs the score was 33 for 0 and well ahead of the equivalent opposition score. Weston fell in the 6th over for 19 to be followed by Lovell for 35 in the 10th over with the score on 73. The Serendib bowlers seemed to bowl a better length than had MCC and there were far fewer balls able to be lofted over the boundary for six. Throughout the innings MCC were only able to post three overs with double figures and despite a determined, spirited effort, the target set by Serendib was simply too high, the last MCC wicket falling in the 20th over with the score on 134.
Weston 19, caught, 1 catch
Lovell 35, bowled
Sarma 20, caught, 1 over, 0 mdns, 13 runs, 0 wkts
Clare 15, bowled, 1 over, 0 mdns, 13 runs, 0 wkts
Sear 3, bowled, 4 overs, 1 mdn, 32 runs, 3 wkts, 2 catches
Rabbani 13, caught, 1 over, 0 mdns, 12 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch
Fudge 0, caught, 1 over, 0 mdns, 17 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch
Ferguson 0, bowled, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 19 runs, 1 wkt
Wright 1, run out, 1 over, 0 mdns, 21 runs, 0 wkts
Garner 12, caught, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 33 runs, 0 wkts
Blades 2*, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 17 runs, 2 wkts.
MCC, 134 – 10, lost to Serendib, 177 – 7, by 43 runs.
MCC MOM Lovell, highest score and excellent teas.
