A glorious spring day, temperatures around 25°C with a clear blue sky and MCC II headed to Attaching near the airport to play on Lufthansa`s super ground, which may fall victim to the 3rd runway if the Bavarian parliament have their way. The opposition were unrecognisable from previous years with Azam Butt being the sole older member although Roshan was there as organiser.
Captain Alagh won the toss and chose to field as the outfield, although cut short, was still slightly damp from overnight dew. Opening bowlers A. Khan and Bhamare kept the run rate down to four an over although Bhamare staked his claim for the wide-boys prize until he was later caught and surpassed by Toke and Bhat. A bowled-Khan-caught-Bowes combination brought the first wicket in the third over with the score on 16 and, in the eigth over, Bhamare had a two-fer making the opposition 31 for three down. The opening bowlers were replaced by Bhat and Sestan with Sestan bowling a perfect first over and getting 2 for 0 whereas in hís second he chose not to let the ball bounce and finished after two overs with 0 for 23.
They were replaced by Toke and the Dirty Dancer Harit Khanna. The opposition couldn`t believe his – I hate to call it run-up – and paid for their laughter as he finished with three wickets for two runs in 2.2 overs. Toke and A. Khan took the remaining two wickets and a disappointed Lufthansa were all out for 115 in 24.2 overs.
After a short tea break, MCC opened with Toke and Bhalerao. Toke joined the duck race in the first over but seemed to have received a bit if a bummer as, from the boundary, the ball appeared to hit him very high up. A. Khan and Bhalerao put on 51 for the second wicket before Khan departed after getting a little restless and going for some big shots, generally missing and finally being plumb LBW. A couple of runs later Bhalerao nicked one to the keeper so Bowes and Bhamare were left to chase down the runs in 18.5 overs. Bowes seems to have cultivated the Dilshan scoop as he played it every ball faced according to elder statesman and club treasurer Giles who had arrived after 20 overs of the Lufthansa innings, hoping for a Long, enjoyable afternoon watching cricket.
So it was an historical win for MCCII being the first ever league victory and an enjoyable time was spent in the beer garden afterwards.
Toke, 0, LBW, 5 overs, 1 mdn, 19 runs, 1 wkt
Bhalerao, 14, caught,
Khan A, 21, LBW, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 12 runs, 2 wkts, 1 catch
Bhamare, 25*, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 34 runs, 2 wkts,
Bowes, 20*, 1 catch
Bhat, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 21 riuns, 0 wkts
Khanna, DNB, 2.2 overs, 1 mdn, 2 runs, 3 wkts, 1 catch
Alagh, DNB, 1 catch
Otmankhil, DNB
- Asif, DNB
Sestan, DNB, 2 overs, 1 mdn, 23 runs, 2 wkts.
MCC, 116 – 3 in 18.5 overs, besat Lufthansa, 115 – 10 in 24.2 overs by 7 wickets
MCC MOM Amin Khan.