After a prolonged period of warm weather everyone was excited about the traditional first game of the season between Pak Orient and MCC. This year though there was something extra to look forward to for after four and a half years of begging and badgering the city of Munich finally allowed an artificial pitch to be installed at the Pak Orient ground.
The teams were present at 11 am on a rather cool day ready for the opening ceremony, performed by Al Meraj Bhatti, who cut the red tape protecting the pitch after Adschi Keim had made a speech welcoming everyone and describing the trials and tribulations he had experienced over the past four and a half years. Adschi also bowled the first ball in the match which was agreed to be a 35 overs per innings affair, MCC having won the toss and decided to field first.
Pak Orient openers Sher Khan and Murtaza prepared to face MCCs opening bowlers Scott and Blades. True to form and tradition, the first ball bowled was a wide followed by two dot balls, a two, two more dot balls and a six. Clearly the batters enjoyed the predictable bounce the new pitch was delivering. Pak Orient continued to score at around seven runs per over throughout their innings, the first wicket falling in the 13th over with the score on 90. The second wicket followed in the same over with the score on 93. A mere 10 runs were put on for the third wicket which fell in the 13th over and another 38 runs came from the fourth wicket partnership before Aranjit Singh fell in the 22nd over. Basit and Mathien now pushed along the score rapidly, both retiring “out” as did the next two batsmen, Ghani and Feisel. Zardan and Arsch batted out the remaining overs and Pak Orient finished on 261 for 7.
MCC openers Veser and Mitchell scored at an incredible rate and both the Pak Orient opening bowlers, Singh and Murtaza were 0 -20 after two overs respectively. The carnage continued until Veser went LBW for 57 in the 16th over with the score on 135. Mitchell went, also LBW, for 55 in the same over. Michahelles opened the MCC duck race for 2014 facing three balls only, having been told by the captain to push the run rate along. Rather hilariously he charged down the wicket to Basit’s bowling and would surely have been stumped had the keeper gathered cleanly. MCC continued to exceed the required run rate and after 30 overs were 238 but with 6 wicket down, so needed 17 runs from five overs with four wickets left. Unfortunately for MCC but happily for Pak Orient those four wickets went in four overs leaving MCC seven runs short
It was an excellent match with some good cricket played in a very friendly but competitive atmosphere.
*Veser, 57, LBW
Mitchell, 55, LBW
Arunachalan, 9, caught, 1 over, 0 mdns, 12 runs, 0 wkts
Michahelles, 0, bowled, 1 over, 0 mdns, 19 runs, 0 wkts
+Rabbani, 27, caught, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 29 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch
Sear, 51, caught, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 18 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch
O`Connor, 4, caught, 3overs, 1 mdn, 19 runs, 0 wkts
Carrie, 15, bowled, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 16 runs, 3 wkts
Sestan, 1, bowled, 4 overs, 0 wkts, 32 runs, 1 wkt
Blades, 1, run out, 7 overs, = mdns, 56 runs, 0 wkts
Gill, 0*, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 30 runs, 0 wkts.
Pak Orient, 261 for 7, beat MCC, 254 for 10, by 7 runs
MCC MOM: Carrie