On a cold summer’s day, both teams arrived early, eager to battle it out on the cricket field.
However, there was a slight delay as the umpire arrived ten minutes late, causing a delay in the start
of the match. Despite the wait, the players were determined to give it their all, especially MCC, who
needed a win to keep their chances of staying in the Bundesliga alive.
After losing the toss, MCC was sent in to field, and they made a roaring start with the ball. Waqas
was back in his blistering form and struck early, removing Serendip’s opener with just the second ball
of the match. It took another 11 overs to get the second wicket, with Serendip reaching a score of 40. MCC’s bowlers started to find their rhythm, with Mucca’s excellent variation and some
impressive catching from Shiv, Deep, and Sabu.
Mucca’s spell was particularly impactful as he finished with figures of 4/17 from his six overs,
significantly changing the course of the innings. Sabu also played a vital role, bowling a fiery spell of
10 overs in a row and finishing with figures of 2/33. Aniruhd contributed with the crucial wicket of
Milan, leaving Serendip struggling at 97/8 after 27.5 overs. Serendip was eventually bowled out for a
modest total, setting a target of 105 for MCC to win and keep their season alive.
MCC’s chase didn’t start as they would have hoped, losing three quick wickets before the end of the
7th over, with the score at 15/3. Anirudh, Mucca, and Such were back in the pavilion. Priyansh and
Deep took charge of stabilizing the innings against Serendip’s excellent slow bowling attack. Deep
fought hard but eventually fell for 3 runs from 35 balls, leaving MCC at 38/4 after 20 overs.
The pressure was mounting, but Cam, who had missed recent weekends due to attending weddings,
showed great composure as he came to the crease. Priyansh and Jonty both fell in quick succession,
leaving MCC at 55/6 after 25.2 overs. Despite the precarious situation, Cam displayed maturity and
determination, keeping out anything on the stumps and capitalizing on loose deliveries. Shiv joined
him at the crease, and they put up a crucial partnership. Shiv fell for 3, but the duo had taken the
score to 82/7 after 32 overs, with MCC still requiring 23 runs for victory.
Sandy, coming in at number 9, played a crucial role in the chase. There was a contentious moment
when he survived an audacious appeal for a catch from a ball that clearly bounced before the fielder,
but the umpire ruled in his favor. Cam and Sandy batted cautiously, taking minimal risks and inching
closer to the target.
Finally, in the 41st over, Cam struck a boundary to secure the win for MCC. He remained unbeaten
on a match-winning 34, showcasing his composure under pressure. Sandy also played a valuable
role, finishing on 11 not out.
Cam’s innings proved to be the turning point, as his resilience and composed approach helped MCC
secure a much-needed victory and keep their hopes alive in the Bundesliga. With this win, MCC still
have a mathematical chance of staying in the league, providing a glimmer of hope for the team as
the season comes to a close.
Full Scorecard –
https://cricclubs.com/BayerischerCricketVerbandeV/viewScorecard.do?matchId=1336&clubId=4095
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Hans Oldman
