A wonderful summer day, 30° plus saw the advance party gather outside the Hirschanger waiting for the mini-bus which came along only 15 minutes late. O’Meagher took over the driving and headed to my place to collect the kit bag and a cooler box before moving on to the Forschungsbrauerei. Having decided that four crates making 40 litres in total should suffice for the weekend we had the first shock. They only sell half pint or 1 litre bottles with horrific deposits on them. They do not sell or rent out glasses any more so we purchased ten of their half litre steins and sampled the wares immediately on setting off again. Actually all agreed that this was a more civilised way to treat Munich’s best nectar. So now the club is the proud possessor of eight FB steins – yes eight because two tourists, Bowes and Kantor were so enamoured with them they purchased one each. Evil tongues commented it was to immortalise the spectacular run out in which they were involved. The 32 litres were just about sufficient for the trip to Zuoz, much to the consternation of driver MOM who, of course, couldn`t partake. It is painful to hear a grown man cry while’st driving a large mini-van. At the first pit stop to purchase an Austrian autobahn sticker we met some of the Smock XI who greeted Mascarenhas, their player who was actually travelling with us. The Smocks went ahead of us and we had the rewarding experience of being stopped by a police check and when told we were travelling to Zuoz they replied “ah yes, the cricket festival”. Such is fame!
After checking in at the Convict and being very relieved that the reservations had been made for the correct weekend it was a quick change and a walk to the Dorta of Boulder Wilson’s “I really want to work here fame”. We decided to put the four Indian members in the same room which turned out to be an inspired decision as they were like sailors on shore leave as soon as they entered the Dorta. Three of them travelled in the 5pm shift driven by Chris Carrie and the fourth, Praful, almost came alone but, when waiting at Rosenheim Hauptbahnhof for Darren Baker, he stumbled across Amruth Shankar who was reportedly playing for Tegernsee and brought him along instead. While the advance party went in to dinner skipper Weston made the draw at the Dorta and we learned that we were to play the first game on the morrow against the Smocks. I don`t remember who was detailed to get Mascarenhas incapable but it didn’t work, he looked revoltingly fit at breakfast the next morning. It was rewarding to be booed by the umpires when we entered the dining room, presumably an omen for the weekend. Elder statesman Giles arrived at the Dorta about 2200 hours and was full of “this would never have happened in my day” when the majority of the squad left for the Convict around 11 pm. I surrendered at about 1220 leaving the sailors with the elder statesman and was awakened by their raucous return to the Convict at 02:30. Revenge was sweet though when I performed my early morning army wake up call for them.
Captain Weston lost the toss and we were asked to field. Remembering that we had gone to Zuoz intending to win the captain’s rotation of the bowlers was more than a little puzzling. In all he used ten bowlers each bowling three overs each. Perhaps he was the one detailed to treat Mascarenhas and it had backfired? Anyway, the Smocks scored 207 for 6 down in their 30 overs. The captain though was unperturbed saying “when did I not score a ton on Zuoz #2 in the opening fixture”? He opened with Carrie and they out on 65 for the first wicket, Carrie going for 41 to be replaced by the Gloucestershire Brummie, Baker. He faced a wide ball then was given what from the boundary looked like a bit of a bummer being given LBW when a long way down the pitch – welcome to the duck race Darren. In came Konchada, still visibly suffering from the sailors rotas of yesterday but he and Weston put on 139 for the third wicket, the third highest in the club’s history. Konchada then foolishly gave his wicket away charging down the pitch and hitting to Mascarenhas . Arunachalam thus got to score a not out five and improve his stats.
*Weston, 117*, 3 over, 0 mdns, 14 runs, 2 wkts, 1 catch
Carrie, 41, bowled, 3 overs, 2 mdns, 4 runs, 2 wkts
Baker, 0, LBW, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 6 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch
Konchada, 25, caught, 3 overs, 1 mdn, 28 runs, 1 wkt,
Arunachalam, 5*, 3overs, 0 mdns, 13 runs, 0 wkts
O’Meagher. DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 29 runs. 0 wkts, 1 catch
Clare, DNB, 3 overs, 1 mdn, 10 runs, 0 wkts
Toke, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 46 runs, 0 wkts
Alagh, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 25 runs, 0 wkts,
Kantor, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 19 runs, 2 wkts
+Bowes, DNB,
MCC, 211 for 3, beat Smocks XI, 207 for 6 by 7 wickets.
MCC MOM: Weston
The second game after a fine lunch was on pitch #1, the largest playing ground and captain Weston lost the toss and we were asked to field again. Bowler Clare got us off to a fine start, bowling their opener with his third ball. That was to be the only real joy for MCC as Winterhur batted very responsibly being particularly able to run quick singles. MCC on the other hand did not field well, many overthrows and some catches put down. Winterthur finished on 201 for six in their 30 overs.
MCC put on around 20 per wicket for the first six wickets, The Gloucestershire Brummie getting another bummer being caught behind off a blatant chucker and wondering why he hadn`t stayed on Rosenheim Hauptbahnhof. Garner scored 24 and complained immediately about the new club batting gloves and Alagh and Kantor joined the duck race, Kantor being memorably run out by Bowes.
Weston, 13, bowled, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 34 runs, 2 wkts
O’Meagher, 32, bowled,
Baker, 4, caught,
Carrie, 54, caught, 6 overs, 2 mdsn 29 runs, 1 wkt
Clare, 7, LBW, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 34 runs, 2 wkts
Konchada, 2, bowled, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 27 runs, 0 wkts
Garner, 24, bowled, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 42 runs, 0 wkts
Alagh, 00, LBW
Bowes, 2, stumped
Kantor, 0, run out
Blades, 1*, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 26 runs, 0 wkts.
MCC, 163 -10, lost to Winterthur, 201 – 6, by 38 runs
MCC MOM: Carrie
During the MCC innings the weather had turned to normal Zuoz style, rain and icy winds and we were glad to return to the warmth of the Convict and finish off the remainder of the Forschuingbrauerei nectar which had been kept in the Convict ice room for us. Then we made our way to the Pizza parlour for a merry evening, most of us leaving around 1130 but some hardened tourists headed off following a rumour of a new bar in Zuoz.
The next day dawned bright and sunny ready for us to take on Terensee on pitch #1 for the third place play off. Captain Weston actually won the toss and chose to bat opening with Baker and Toke. Toke decided that the duck race was more exciting and went after facing two balls to be replaced by Weston. The partnership of 182 with Baker is the second highest in the club’s history and was broken when Weston went for 85 – he really does like this ground. Kantor replaced him and scored a glorious duck-race-saving one before being bowled. In came Arunachalam who was interested only in singles and sixes hitting four sixes in his 11 ball 27. Bowes showed he did know what a bat was to be used for and also hit three boundaries in his 13 ball 20 but, bad for a keeper, was out stumped. Clare and Blades faced out the final ball of the innings.
MCC opened the bowling with O’Meagher and Carrie, O`Meagher getting the first and only wicket in the fifth over. Tegernsee scored at around five per over for 15 overs then the heavens opened and the real Zuoz weather returned with a vengeance. They were on 80 when the game was abandoned and needed 125 to have won the match
Baker, 95, bowled, 1 catch
Toke, 0, caught
Weston, 85, caught,
Kantor, 1, bowled
Aranachalam, 27, caught
Bowes, 20, stumped
Clare, 0*,
Blades, 0*, 1 over, 0 mdns, 8 runs, o wkts
Konchada, DNB,
Garner, DNB, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 7 runs, 0 wkts
O’Meagher, DNB, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 41 runs 1 wkt
Alagh, DNB
Carrie, DNB, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 21 runs, 0 wkts.
MCC, 249 – 6 beat Tegernsee, 80 -1 by 45 runs (12 over rule) ( Reassigned 4.7.2015 to “no result”, see footnote)
MCC MOM, Baker
A somewhat bedraggled squad piled into the various vehicles for the drive home around 4 pm. Most were knackered after two days of celebrating, three games and the Zuoz weather. The only incident worth reporting was the speeding ticked earned in Austria for the min-van
Many thanks to all the tourists for making it a memorable weekend, especially to the drivers, Mark O`Meagher, Chris Carrie and Praful Toke, and, of course, to our only supporter, elder statesman Doug Giles.
FOOTNOTE: today, 4th July, quoting the American declararation of Independence, Tegensee contested the match result claiming the 2/5 rule for abandoned matches did not apply and therefore the match should be “no result”. This means of course that they can claim third equal ranking in the tournament. Not wanting to upset our friends from Tegernsee and even more not wanting another battle of Bunker Hill I have mdified this report accordingly.
