MCCII at the Hirschanger for a Regionalliga fixture against the Munich Lions whom we had beaten by over 100 runs in a friendly a couple of week ago so the team was fairly confident of getting the points. However, Captain Barrett foolishly made the toss using something other than the Maria Theresa silver dollar which was a bad omen to start with – and he lost so MCC were asked to field first.
MCC opened with Bhamare and Khan Maihwand and in the first two overs the wide boys race hotted up, with nine bowled and the run rate at seven per over. The run rate stayed between six and seven for the whole innings, the ground was dry and hard so good shots went for boundaries and the fielding and catching, to put it extremely diplomatically, was pretty awful. Their first wicket – bowled by Bhatia – fell in the tenth over with the score on 61, the second in the 18th over with the score on 112. Toke and Konchada looked for a while as if they were going to get on top of the batsmen but it didn`t last and the wide count mounted – 40 wides in 40 overs – and the Breakaways finished on 257 for 8 down off 40 overs, 57 of the total being extras.
We had all been looking forward to some scrumptious teas provided for the first time by Bhatia. He made an extra effort to make sure everything was fresh and brought along buns which had first to be baked for 12 minutes in an oven. Pillock is the least of the names that spring to mind. However, Khan Mahmud saved the day by going shopping and brought back some Semmeln which, I`m sure, were better quality than would have been the case with Bhatia`s oven fresh.
After teas, MCC opened with Bhat and Konchada – the two highest scorers from last week. Captain Barrett had cleverly put himself way down the order to prevent Bhat giving him another diamond one. Bhat was back eating Semmeln in the 4th over with the score on 16, and Konchada in the 8th with the score on 29. Mustaq joined the duck race, LBW, for which the umpire later apologised – rubbing salt into the wound some would say. Bhamare went for 10 in the 10th but then a splendid partnership of 56 between Bowes and Toke ended at the drinks break. Kerr and Barrett ground out double figure scores but the best hit to watch was Maroofkhel, the very last ball of the innings, hitting their best and fastest bowler for an almighty six. The bowler was not amused.
Bhat, 4, caught,
Konchada, 13, bowled, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 25 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch
Bhamare, 10, caught, 8 overs, 0 mdns, 48 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch
Mushtaq, 0, LBW, 1 catch
Toke, 37, caught, 5 0vers, 0 mdns, 35 runs, 2 wkts
Bowes, 24, caught
+Kerr, 14, caught, 1 catch
*Barrett, 16*, 8 overs, 0 mdns, 34 runs, 0 wkts
Bhatia, 9, caught, 1 catch, 24 unbaked Semmeln
Maroofkhel, 11*, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 29 runs, 1 wkt
Khan Maihwand, DNB, 6 0vers, 0 mdns, 37 runs, 2 wkts
MCC, 191 – 8 in 40 over, lost to Munich Lions, 257 – 8 in 40 overs by 66 runs
MCC MOM: Praful Toke