*Disclaimer – All persons named in this report are fictional, any resemblance to living persons is purely coincidental.
The day started fine for the latest instalment of the MCC Super Series as MCC Black lined up against MCC Gold for the “Red Bull Tin Can” and for the first time in the history of MCC it appeared that all players were at the Hirsch within 15 minutes of the scheduled meet time. All members worked hard and quickly to set up the ground, before the captains Derevill and Wambridge took a few minutes to split the personnel into two even teams. A roll call was made to ensure all were present and correct. “Cillong!” “here”,”Bazrett”, “present”, “My wand”….. “My wand”…. Inevitably, we were not all present, and it meant that MCC Gold were down to 10 men.
MCC Gold won the toss and Derevill elected to bat in perfect batting conditions allowing openers Ohmybad and Mukka to wander out to the middle for the expected run fest. MCC Black skipper Wambridge threw the new ball to Woqos, who promptly swung the ball back in to remove Ohmybad’s middle stump with the second ball of the day! Disconsolate, inconsolable, Ohmybad trudged back to the pavilion a broken man.
The new batsman Sue Meat joined Mukka and the pair added only 11 before Woqos slanted the ball across Mukka (7), who’s booming drive could only find a thick outside edge. The ball flew at lightning speed to the outstretched arms of Wambridge at gully, who managed to claim a fabulous catch at the 6th attempt.
Slashy joined Sue Meat for a brief partnership before Woqos picked up his and MCC Black’s third wicket. Sue Meat thought his miscued drive had chipped just over Zedshan at short mid wicket-on. However, Zedshan had other ideas, as MCC Black took another terrific catch, this time a one handed back tracker. Sue Meat out for 14 and MCC Gold 25/3 in the 7th over.
Woqos ended his excellent opening spell of 5-1-12-3 and the unfortunate Crooks at the other end also returning very respectable figures of 5-0-20-0, when Wambridge decided to slow the pace down with the introduction of Cillong and Bazrett. Run scoring remained difficult with Bazrett picking up the wickets of Clowes (8) and Boris (duck) either side of a sharp run out from Varoon, a direct hit to remove South African captain Francois du Plessis for just 4.
With MCC Gold reeling at 61/6, Wambridge began to think that perhaps this wasn’t the run fest we all thought it would be so turned to Welsh newcomer, Dafydd Llewellyn to try and allow MCC gold to increase their score. Dafydd was having none of it, as first ball after drinks, he dismissed the opposing captain Derevill for just a couple. His firmly struck uppish drive was well taken by Zedshan at short cover, 66/7.
Slashy, who had been going along quite nicely at the other end, was joined by MCC’s other Welshman, Euan. The pair putting on an excellent 44 run partnership to take MCC Gold to 110, before Slashy finally played a false shot to be bowled by Varoon for 37. An excellent knock in tough circumstances.
Due to My Wand missing in action, another newcomer to MCC, Raul was the last man to come to the crease, he struck a glorious 4 through extra cover, before calling a suicidal single to Varoon to leave Euan 9 not out and the MCC Gold innings ended on 117/9.
MCC Black were confident of chasing the runs down, and Wambridge decided to open the batting with the steady hands of Bazrett and the punchy ones of Mohamed Ali. Unfortunately MCC Gold had other ideas, and Mohamed Ali punched one straight to square leg, to be dismissed for a blob off Francois du Plessis. Bazrett was joined by the classy Varoon and the pair put on a circumspect 14 runs before Bazrett was finally put out of his misery, missing a straight one from Mukka for a 23 ball 1. Francois du Plessis (8-2-18-1) and Mukka’s (8-2-10-2) opening spells were outstanding and when Francois was replaced by Slashy, MCC Black were 31/3. Mukka having removed Varoon for 12 with the day’s theme continuing as Raul, claimed another excellent catch.
Sandy Who and Zedshan continued the crawl until Zedshan was removed for 6, lbw off Slashy and Sandy Who (12), also lbw to Slashy. MCC Black 55/5 and the target of 118 looking a long way away. With Cillong and Farfaz at the crease, MCC Black, started to make inroads into the target. Farfaz dismissed for 9, caught Sue Meat bowled Slashy either side of which, Cillong looked especially comfortable in an uncharacteristic steady innings before Euan got the ball to slide through a big expansive drive. Cillong dismissed for 20 which would turn out to be MCC Black’s top score.
Wambridge was joined by Dafydd and the pair adding 10 before Wambridge inexplicably toed a waste high full toss off Clowes straight up in the air, the cry of “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!” could be heard at the Allianz Arena and opposing captain Derevill nervously held the catch at mid-wicket. Clowes couldn’t believe his luck, meaning MCC Black were all but beaten as the luckless Crooks joined Dafydd hoping to end his streak of 3 consecutive ducks. It wasn’t to be, Crooks lbw to Euan for his 4th consecutive duck of 2018, MCC Black all out 95/9, MCC Gold win by 22 runs.
Match Summary – MCC Gold (117/9) beat MCC Black (95/9) by 22 runs.
MCC Man of the Match – Everybody.
Author’s Man of the Match – Slashy.
Champagne Moment – Zedshan’s one handed backtracking catch to dismiss Sue Meat.
Thanks for Coming Award – Ohmybad.
Quote of the Day – “NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” (Wambridge).
Match in Numbers:
1 – Catches dropped.
18 – Number of wickets to fall.
44 – Highest partnership of the match (Slashy and Euan).
2 – MCC Debutants.
10 – runs conceded in 8 overs by Mukka.
CB
