Sunday April 22 2018
Fixture: T20
In this early season friendly we saw MCC travel up the U6 to visit local rivals MLCC.
Being a Sunday and with most members adhering to the German way of taking a day of rest we fielded a team of 9 MCC members and a couple of lads who were milling around the ground.
A toss was undertaken with Captain Colling getting the desired outcome and electing to field first.
The new ball was tossed to Du Plessis who though complaining of stiffness delivered a tidy opening spell which was ably backed up by the ever energetic Samiullah.
What followed was an exhibition in slow spin bowling. Batsmen came and went at a consistent rate. The standouts being Deshpande (3 wickets for not many) and Shashi (4 wickets for not many.) Catches win matches and perhaps as a sign of things to come MCC did not drop one including a blinder from Shashi at gully, a steepler from Du Plessis at deepish mid on and a tidy pouch by Sandu out at cow.
MLCC all out for 104 in 15 overs.
Du Plessis and Macca were sent out to face the music early on and did a good job knocking the shine off the new ball, getting through to 28 from 5 overs. When Macca perished and Zeeshan followed soon after MCC were looking a bit shaky. However Deshpande and Du Plessis steadied the ship nicely and with a couple of cameos from Colling and Shashi the win was sewn up in the 17th. In the words of Mr Giles “ a nice competent run chase”.
Finishing earlier than expected allowed for a thorough recap of the game and a few good yarns over a beer at the handily placed kiosk across the way.
Another good day of cricket in the books.
(NC)