The MCC new boys on the block headed for West Park to take on MIC in a friendly. Captain for the day David Carr had only seen one of the team before so didn`t have the easiest of tasks setting the batting order after he won the toss and chose to bat. At the start we were only 9 players, Alagh being simply late and pilot George navigating to the wrong ground thinking it was a home match. Their position in the batting order was thus determined easily. Qureshi and Zazai who was over the moon now that he finally got a game opened and put on 26 for the first wicket, Qureshi going for four in the 4th over. Zazai made some good shots including two fours and a six before being bowled for 16. Clearly the coaching schools in Afghanistan don`t put much weight on defensive play. At 49 the third wicket fell, Ishtiak out caught for 15 which included a glorious six. Toke and Bowes put on 12 for the fourth wicket before Bowes was bowled Kashif for 2. Toke and Bhamare put on a magnificent 105 for the fifth wicket, helped by MIC providing some very friendly bowling – they used 11 bowlers. Still you can only play what the opposition offers and it was a wonderful partnership. Captain Carr replaced Toke and saw Bhamare depart on 60, the highest score of the game, and was then joined at the crease by Barrett who decided to join the duck race but, to be fair had a questionable LB decision. Carr went shortly afterwards with the score on 180, Alagh also fancied his chances in the duck race top edging behind on his second ball faced, Michahelles was LBW after scoring a loudly applauded single leaving Hashimi, who had also hit an astonishing 6, not out on 13. MCC were all out for 205 which included 32 wides and 11 no-balls.
After the tea break Karhik and Murthy of the MIC faced MCC opening bowlers Zazai and Hashimi. True to MCC tradition both opened their spells with wide balls in fact Zazai made a determined attempt to gather the wide boys award, much to the consternation of Michahelles. After three overs he was replaced by Bhamare who hit the right line immediately. Hashimi took the first wichet with the score on 52 getting Murthy LBW. Bhamare bowled Parth in the 11th over with the score on 83 and in came the MIC captain Kashif. He and Karthik put on 50 for the third wicket but new boy Barrett got him caught and bowled for 40 from 19 balls in the 16th over. Vijay who replaced him was run out thanks to some excellent fielding with the score on 146. The score stayed the same when Amit was caught Hashimi bowled Toke for a duck in the 20th over. During the drinks break Karthik retired on 41 so MIC were 148 for 6 down. Barrett and Toke bowled fairly tightly taking 2 for 57 in their combined 10 overs. Alagh, who bowled very well and Michahelles saw out the game, Mic scoring the winning runs in the 30th over.
Everyone had a lot of fun and it was a friendly match played in a very friendly atmosphere.
Zazai, 16 bowled, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 28 runs 0 wkts
Qureshi, 4, bowled
Toke, 42, caught, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 25 runs, 1 wkt
Ishtiak, 15 cuaght, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 26 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch
+Bowes, 2, bowled
Bhamare, 60 caught, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 16 runs, 1 wkt
*Carr, 3, bowled
Barret, o, LBW, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 32 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch
Hashimi, 13*, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 35 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch
Alagh, 0, caught, 3.5 overs, 0 mdns, 20 runs, 1 wkt
Michahelles, 1, LBW, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 20 runs, 0 wkt
MCC, 205 for 10 in 39.3 overs, lost to MIC, 206 for 7 in 29,5 overs by 3 wickets.
MCC MOM: Bhamare