MCC Fürsten hold their nerve again
The MCC Fürsten entourage gathered in Hasenburgl for yet another day of back-to-back T20’s. Most of the squad arrived at the agreed meeting time of 10:30. Thankfully, veteran ‘Bluey Barrett’ kindly brought a dozen bottles of water for the team as there was no running water or toilets at the ‘lovely’ POCC home ground. Captain Altmann continued his good tossing, won the toss and elected to bat in the first match on the normally high scoring ‘hard wicket’ pitch.
MCC started well enough, ticking the score along, although giving a couple of chances before Altmann went for one too many with the first wicket falling at 23. Altmann was followed soon after by Vish bringing Mucca and Such together at the crease. These two put on a run a ball 30 run partnership before Such was caught trying to lift the run rate. In came Argha who supported Mucca beautifully with some lovely cover drives including a lofted 6 over the running track and into the bushes, putting pressure back on POCC. Mucca controlled the innings, playing shots to all parts of the ground before eventually getting out going for quick runs for a majestic 47 runs. Phil was the last one in, ‘guiding’ the ball well over the keepers’ head, finishing not out on 5 with Argha still there with him on 18.
The MCC finished on, not a huge score of 129, but walked into the field confident they’d defend it. Waqas opened the bowling with Billy, with Waqas cutting their opening batsman in half with a rapid inswinger, taking the hapless batsman’s leg stump.
Wickets then became a bit harder to come by, but the runs were certainly not flowing with POCC moving onto 43 before the second wicket fell to the bowling of Jaxon in the 9th over. Jaxon then removed the other set batsman and POCC were now in a bit of trouble, with the required rate above 10 and new batsmen at the crease. Argha and Jaxon continued to take wickets helped mainly by ‘Buckets Barret’ at Long On. Kunal and Craig came in and cleaned up the tail with Kunal finished with 3 wickets and Craig 1. Kunal second wicket was a highlight after his first ball of the over sailed at least 40m over the fence, removed the batsman next ball and told him he could go collect the ball for us.
MCC 129/4 (20 overs)
Mucca - 47
POCC 84/10 (19.1 overs)
Kunal - 3 for 9 off 2.1 overs
Jaxon – 3 for 15 off 4 overs
MCC finished up comfortable winners of the first match by 45 runs.
Captain Altmann again showed he was quite the tosser, winning his fourth in a row and decided to have his men set another target for POCC to try and chase down.
The innings started with disaster. Argha getting a ripping yorker and losing his middle stump, followed by a massive send off from their sharp opening bowler (who told us after the game, he wanted to join MCC but was told to “F*** Off” while trying to enter during a COVID restrictions training session last year).
Jaxon came in and joined Such at the crease and played some bold and effective cricket shots before going for one to many and getting caught at covers for 10. Mucca then strolled to the crease and played the knock of the season, smashing 60 from 36 balls combining with Kunal. The pair put on an 82 run partnership, that set up the game. The innings finished with Shivam and Bowes blasting a few lofty blows to bring the score at the end of 20 overs to 153 for 7.
Captain Altmann took the ball away from the ever-reliable hands of Waqas and gave Such a crack. Some strong hitting from the one legged POCC opener suggested it wasn’t the best idea with the first over going for 12. The Swashbuckler also smashed 17 off Billy’s second over, even with Billy picking up a wicket. The MCC were tired in the field. The dislike of playing 2 T20’s back to back showing. Some poor fielding and dropped catches, keeping POCC in the game and the pressure mounting on the MCC. Mucca finally got the break through MCC needed, well assisted by Bowes behind the stumps and everyone was relieved to see the back of the Swashbuckler who’d smashed 45 off 25 balls.
Argha bowled well under the pressure, taking crucial wickets, helped by the catch of the day from Mucca again, taking a one hander and inch or 2 from the boundary (He held his position and waiting for the umpire to come and check before the umpire raised the finger), celebrating with the typical Hawaiian girl screensaver bum wiggle. Craig took another catch at deep mid-on finishing with 5 catches for the day, all in that position.
MCC were still feeling the pressure with POCC only needing around 7 runs an over from the 6 overs remaining but as the wickets continued to tumble the POCC had given up hope and were all preparing to leave before the match was over, after a long day at the baking Hasenburgl ground.
Waqas fittingly finished off the innings by removing the middle stump of their number 10 (their number 11 had already seen enough and gone home). MCC won the match by 27 runs and have now won 6 in a row, with a consistent all-round team performances and never give in attitude. It was great to see Des back at the cricket and special thanks to Amol for coming along to support and bringing his full kit despite breaking his finger last weekend.
MCC 153/7 (20 overs)
Mucca 60 off 36
Kunal 29 off 30
POCC 126/9 (16.4)
Argha 3 for 15 off 3 oversPlayer of the day: Mucca 47(43) and 60(39) as well as catch and a wicket.
Moment of the day: Kunal getting pumped over the trees and then next ball removing the batsman’s middle stump and telling him to go a fetch the ball we’d just lost.
Hans Oldman
