8th June 23, Moosburg
Thanks to a sunny public holiday the MCC lads shedded their work attire for the high-viz MCC limited overs pijamas to take on the mighty Moosberg CC in Moosberg.
Game 1: Moosberg (25/10) lost to MCC (27/2)
After losing the toss and waiting on a tardy umpire MCC took the field for a delayed start. Waqas (2-5 of 4ov) and Cam (6-1 of 2ov) sought to make up for lost time by both striking in their respective first overs. The carnage only continued from there, unfortunately for Cam the only further carnage he contributed was to his ankle. Despite the loss of his now-handicapable bowling partner, an unfazed Waqas bowled like the wind tearing through a stunned Moosbergs batting lined-up to claim an outstanding 5-fa from his 4 over spell.
Unfortunately for Moosberg CC the bowling onslaught was coming from both ends with a fired-up Mucca (5-4) pinging both pads and pegs to extinguish Moosberg’s hopes and dreams for just 24.
At the change of innings the wicket-taking duo swapped the leather for willow to inflict more pain on the sadden hosts. Mucca (4) unfortunately swept around a straight one to be bowled. Suchit (7) played some nice shot/s, before copping what he claimed to be a questionable LBW, leaving Waqas to finish what he started by cracking one to the boundary to bring up the win.
Game 2: Moosberg (124/7) lost to MCC (128/4)
Deep defied statistics to go 0 from 2 at the toss leaving MCC to once again take the field. History looked to be repeating itself with a Waqas (X-3 of 4ov) double strike in the first over followed by Mucca (X-2 of 4ov) also grabbing a wicket of his first ball of the spell. A third Waqas wicket put the host in some serious early trouble having lost 4 wickets for just 2 runs inside the first 3 overs.
Unfortunately for MCC, and due to some catching attempts to make the village cricket highlights reel, momentum swung in the hosts favour. The combination of some good batting, poor fielding and OK bowling allowed Moosberg to exceed their first game score by exactly 100 runs, posting a very competitive total of 124.
After MCC squandering a good start in the field, the opening combination of Mucca and Waqas looked to make a correction with the bat. Waqas cracked a quick-fire 18 to ease the run-rate pressures before getting caught. Some contributions from Ed (10), Sarang (4) and Deep (3) kept the game moving, but had left it still in the balance.
Suchit, undoubtedly wanting to avenge his game 1 self, looked like a man on a mission. Pushing singles with the occasional boundary alongside the ever-green (in more than once sense) Mucca (26*), the MCC duo ensured the run-rate stayed in check and pushed the game deep. After some excellent batting through the middle overs by both batsmen, Suchit picked off the bowling attack with a stream of free flowing boundaries to swing the odds firming back in MCC’s favour. With the scores level Suchit worked one to the square leg boundary to earn himself a well deserved 52 not out and secure MCC their second win of the day.
Jacko
