A glorious summer day at the Hirschanger, high hazy skies, 30° plus and a light breeze to help the sweltering fielders. An awful sight greeted us at the start, Helmuth had omitted to stock up on cool fresh but Sarma and Weston, who had turned up to watch, kindly collected a crate of Augustiner from Tengelman’s between riding the Eisbach.
Captain O’Meagher duly lost the toss and MCC were asked to field against the newly formed Cricket Club Bayern Munich. Clare and O’Connor opened the bowling and quickly set the standard with a couple of wides each in their respective first overs, an example which all MCC bowlers followed bowling 45 wides and four no-balls in total. Nevertheless O’Connor struck in the fourth over with another two wides and two wickets. He took a third in his third over and finished with 3 for 16 after four overs.CC Bayern Munich were then 35 for three after seven and when Saleem, their top scorer with 54, went in the 18th over with the score on 89 we thought the game was pretty much ours. However two other batters, Quasim and Murtaza with 39 and 45 respectively had other ideas, helped by the fact that skipper O’Meagher played the friendly game properly and gave everyone who wanted a bowl. Including two new members in their maiden game, Thomas Nielson our athletic Viking and Scott Styris look–alike, James Kanton from New Zealand. The CCBM were all out for 228 in 31.4 overs, the total including 50 extras.
After a tea break which included another magnificent chocolate cake provided by Mrs. JET – can he not make himself available more often so we can pretend to be Brian Johnson on TMS?- MCC opened the batting with Veser and Brunskill. It looked to be a batting wicket but unfortunately Brunskill went LBW and joined the duck race after facing 9 balls. O’Meagher replaced him and with Veser put on 51 for the second wicket before Veser was bowled for 34 in the 10th over, his knock including 7 boundary fours. O’Meagher and O’Connor put on another 49 for the third wicket, O’Meagher going for 32 in the 18th with the score on 115. MCC were well up with the run rate but thereafter it all went more than a little pear shaped with the Great Dane the only notable score, going for 21 including one spectacular boundary six.
So MCC lost what had been a very friendly game and stayed around afterwards finishing off the Augustiner while’st following the antics of an Indian gentleman casing out the Hirschanger in anticipation of their independence day party to be held there on 15th August. He declared himself not impressed with the facilities which so shocked us we were forced to retire to the Chinese Tower for additional refreshment.
Veser, 34, bowled, 1 catch
Brunskill, LBW
O’Meagher, 32 caught, 1 catch
O’Connor, 27, run out, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 16 runs, 3 wkts
Clare, 11, bowled, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 22 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch
Nielson, 21, caught, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 28 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch
Sestan, 1, bowled, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 32 runs, 0 wkts
Garner, 2, caught, 2.4 overs, 0 mdns, 23 runs, 2 wkts, 2 catches
Blades, 6, run out, 5 overs, 1 mdn, 25 runs, 1 wkt,
Michahelles, 1, bowled, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 41 runs, 0 wkts
Kantor, 1*, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 40 runs, 2 wkts, 1 catch.
MCC 180-10 in 33.2 overs, lost to CCBM 228-10 in 31.4 overs, by 48 runs.
MCC MOM O’Connor
