Category: 2013

Yet another wonderful late summer day, temperatures in the lower to mid-twenties, sunny with scattered clouds, and MCC ready to mend some burnt bridges with a 35 over friendly against the Munich Boys after the fracas of the league match against them. As it turned out this was to be the last match of the season at the Hirschanger as we learned later the ground was to be closed until mid-October for repairs/maintenance.

Captain Sarma won the toss and chose to bat, opening with Veser and O`Meagher. They scored quickly at around five per over, until Veser, having made the 500 club for this season, went for 24, caught behind in the tenth over and the score on 55. Mitchell came and went quickly, LBW offering no shot to a ball that turned around corners and he was replaced by Parameswaran playing his first game for the club and playing for the first time on a Flicx having been spoilt by the old British Army grounds in Berlin. He was out caught behind in the 24<sup>th</sup> over with the score on 100. Born again cricketer Caspari went in to demonstrate his new-found capabilities hitting some lusty shots before being run out for 14. O`Meagher had gone earlier for 50 and this gave captain Sarma an opportunity for a pretty little cameo innings of 32 off 18 balls, including 5 boundary fours. In strode our Viking Nielsen, full of intent to pillage many runs from the opposition bowling, hitting two sixes and a four in his 15 ball knock. O`Connor made a useful 13 from 15 balls then left it to Bhamare and Sestan to take MCC to 197 for 8 after 35 overs.

After the tea break, kindly provided by O`Connor, Blades and O’Connor opened the bowling for MCC with four wides in the first two overs. To be fair the MBCC umpires were very harsh in their judgement of wides throughout the innings, MCC bowling 35 as compared to the opposition who bowled 18.  Nevertheless Blades got his first victim, LBW in the 5<sup>th</sup> over, with the score on 23. Ali and Ali Lohdi put on 80 for the second wicket and the game was heading away from us at a rapid pace but Veser made a superb direct hit to run out Ali for 55 in the 13<sup>th</sup> over with the score on 103. Bhamare went for 19 off his first over but recovered well in his second spell and finished with 1 for 38 off seven overs. Parameswaren bowled his first balls for the club and had the misfortune to be on the end of two seven ball overs the first going for a six, the second going for two wides and then a four. If only umpires could count he would have had  2 overs for 9 rather than 2 overs for 21. Nielsen bowled very well taking 3 for 39 in seven overs and treating the large crowd which included old club members Ross Crichton, John Hamilton and Alex Gale to some extraordinary war cries. With three overs left and MBCC needing 11 runs to win captain Sarma brought himself on and promptly bowled two wides. O’Connor`s final over took the scores level and Sarma went down with the ship, the winning single coming off the third ball of the 35^th over.

Veser, 24, caught,

O’Meagher, 50, caught,

Mitchell, 1, LBW

Parameswaran, 14, caught, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 21 runs, 0 wkts,

Caspari, 14, run out

Sarma, 32, caught, 1.3 overs, 0 mdns, 6 runs. 0 wkts, 1 catch, 1 stumping

Nielsen, 24, caught, 7 overs, 0 mdns, 39 runs, 3 wkts, 1 catch, 1 stumping

O`Connor, 13, caught, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 33 runs, 2 wkts

Bhamare, 3*, 7 overs, 1 mdn, 38 runs, 1 wkt

Sestan, 1*, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 25 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch

Blades, DNB, 7 overs, 0 mdns, 32 runs, 2 wkts

MCC, 197 – 8, lost to MBCC, 198 – 9 by 1 wkt

MCC MOM  Nielsen

The end of the season only a few weeks away and 18 members wanted to be selected for this friendly at the Hirschanger causing a mini crisis in the selection committee. It was a warm late summer day, scattered clouds and temperatures around 20°C.

Captain Sarma won the toss and chose to bat sending out Soundararajan and Weston to open for MCC.The first three overs were tight, wides scoring most but unfortunately Soundararajan could not repeat his staying powers of last week and he joined the duck race after facing 14 balls. Weston though was scoring freely and hammering the boundaries although he chose the right fielder to send the catches to in cow corner. O’Connor stayed long enough to kill off any hopes he had of retaining the duck award this season and actually put on 42 with Weston for the third wicket. He was replaced by Bhalerao who once again looked very classy but went for nine runs, the first of three catches by Johnson. Nevertheless, the fourth wicket partnership was 47 runs when Carrie became Johnson’s second catch to be replaced by Blades. The fifth wicket partnership was 58 when Weston was bowled in the 24^th over having scored 103 which included 8 fours and 6 sixes. Hobbs of Prague infamy joined Blades and they made another 40 runs before Hobbs went for 12 in the 30^th and final over becoming Johnson’s third victim. MCC were 214 for 6 after the 30 overs and retired for yet another splendid tea provided by Carrie and Dr Franz Spiess who arrived for his annual visit in his usual way like a hurricane, but bearing loads of cakes and buns, hung around like a tornado and then left us thinking “see you next year”.

Ferguson and Sarma opened the bowling for MCC and bowled three overs each before being replaced by Sestan and Sir Ian Finch of Karlsruhe and Oktoberfest ticket fame. They also bowled three overs as did Weston. Hobbs and Blades bowled two each Carrie one over and Soundararajan 0.5 overs. The MICs batting was surprisingly weak as can be seen by MCC using nine bowlers but the MCC fielding was superb, following on from last week and six very good catches, three of them quite outstanding by Ferguson, Soundararajan and Weston, were taken. Although the first wicket fell with the score on 64, thereafter it went very pear shaped and they were all out for 123 runs, 26 of them being extras. In fact the last six wickets fell for only one run, that being a wide from Blades.

Sojundararajan, 0, LBW, 0.5 overs, 0 mdns, 0 runs, 2 wkts, 1 catch

Weston, 103, bowled, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 23 runs, 1 wkt, 2 catches

O’Connor, 2, bowled,

Bhalerao, 9, caught,

Carrie, 19, caught, 1 over, 1mdn, 0 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch

Blades, 20*, 2 overs, 1 mdn, 1 run, 3 wkts

Hobbs, 12, caught, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 23 runs, 0 wkts

Sarma, 0*, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 17 runs, 0 wkts,

Sestan, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 20 runs, 1 wkt

Ferguson, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 9 runs, 0 wkts, 2 catches

Finch, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 29 runs, 2 wkts.

MCC, 214 – 6, beat MICs, 123 -10 by 91 runs

MCC MOM Weston.

A fine day at the Hirschanger, the fridge stocked with two crates of Tegernseeer Helles and, thanks to Khanna and Soundararajan, we were able to field ten players to match the ten opposition players, their tenth having been recruited at the Chinese Tower on Friday evening.

Durham won the toss and chose to bat and had to face the wrath of MCC opening bowlers Garner and Fudge. Garner took a wicket with his third ball and continued to bowl some wicked, swinging and seaming deliveries. The opposition couldn`t believe that these two were fringe league players. Nielsen and Brunskill took over with Brunskill taking two wickets for three runs in his first over. Nielsen also took a pair, one a very good catch behind by keeper Khanna. Only one Durham player, their organiser, made a score worth mentioning (Rathbone 43, run out). No one else made double figures except our 18 wides bowled. Durham were all out for 107 in 30.2 overs

After a short drinks break Rabbani and Soundararajan opened the batting for MCC with Soundararajan keeping up one end until he was out caught for 8 after facing 34 balls but Rabbani decided singles were not in his repertoire today hitting three fours and two sixes in his 21 ball cameo 28 runs before being mightily out LBW.

Mitchell made a healthy 26 off 20 balls, Clare came and went quickly but O’Meagher and Fudge put on 78 for the 5^th wicket. Actually after 17 overs MCC had won the game but as it was so early we decided to call it a double innings match, MCC would bat on and make a score for Durham to chase and give them a time limit up until 18:30 to win. After O’Meagher fell for 40 in the 25^th over with the score on 171, Fudge and Nielsen put on an unbeaten 42 for the sixth wicket when MCC declared leaving Durham 107 to win, the same score as they had made in their first innings.

After a tea break which included some marvellous cakes provided by the ladies Brunskill and Nielsen which brought a round of applause from the opposition Durham went out to face MCC openers Rabbani and Clare. Their batting was better second time around as expected but nevertheless only two made double figures and at the cut off time they were 100 for 6 wickets down and an honourable draw was claimed.

The Flicx was quickly stored away as the Tegernseeer was calling and there were some very dark clouds around. Just as we reached the changing room the heavens opened with a prolonged torrential downpour forcing us to stay at the ground until around 9 pm until the Tegernseeer and a couple of extra crates of Lambbräu from Fraulein Grüneis were empty. During this enforced stay the opposition held a hilarious fines court, even fining our captain for the day Mark O`Meagher

 

MCC batting:

Soundararajan, 8, caught

Rabbani, 28, LBW

Mitchell, 26, caught

O`Meagher, 40, caught

Clare, 6, caught

Fudge, 50*

Nielsen, 20*

Brunskill, DNB

Garner, DNB

Khanna, DNB

MCC fielding 1^st innings:

Garner, 8 overs, 0 mdns, 38 runs, 3 wkts, 1 catch

Fudge, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 10 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch

Nielsen, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 22 runs, 2 wkts

Brunskill, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 17 runs, 3 wkts

Clare, 5.2 overs, 0  mdns, 12 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch

Rabbani, 1 0ver, 0 mdns, 3 runs, 0 wkts

Khanna, 2 catches

Soundararajan, 1 catch

MCC fielding 2^nd Innings

Rabbani, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 16 runs, 1 wkt

Clare, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 8 runs, 2 wkts

Khanna, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 31 runs, 0 wkts

Berunskill, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 31 runs, 1 wkt

Nielsen, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 12 runs, 2 wkts

Garner, 1 stumping

MCC, 213 – 5, drew with Durham Old Boys, 107 -10 and 100 – 6

MCC MOM Brunskill

A glorious day at the Hirschanger, 25°C plus, sunny with scattered clouds, a cooling breeze and everyone keyed up for the social event of the season, a friendly against SSC where the arrangements were: SSC to provide the curry – chicken curry, Dal curry, curried potatoes and beans with Basmati rice – and MCC to provide the beer and whisky. Blades and Garner had cleaned the refrigerator on Friday evening and stocked up with four crates of Augustiner in good time to ensure it would be cool and fresh for the event.

Captain for the day Blades and Nelson went for the toss, Nelson winning for the SSC team which was a collection of SSC, MICs and Munich Boys (clearly the word of free beer and whisky had travelled) and chose to bat.

Berenger and Khan opened for SSC to face MCC opening bowlers, Garner and Rabbani, both of whom bowled tightly, Garner 0 for 10 off 5, Rabbani 0 for 22 off 4. Fudge was given his opportunity to move quickly towards the food table and took two wickets in his first over, Berenger who went for 6 brilliantly caught right hand – left hand by Brunskill in the slips and Renner, caught behind by Furlonger, for a golden duck. In all MCC used nine bowlers, the pick being Algar who took three wickets in only his second over, finishing with 3 for 8 off two overs, which included 4 wides. Captain Blades brought himself back on to get closer to curry table and finished with 3 for 11 off 3.4 overs, SSC being all out for 159 in 34.4 overs.

After a quick tea which included some really splendid cup-cakes provided by Mrs. Jet, MCC openers Mitchell and Algar took the field to face SSC openers, Ravi and Sampath. Clearly they were feeling a little peckish for the runs flowed to some beautiful stroke play and after 125 overs with the score on 114 for 0, Mitchell retired having made 56 off only 40 balls and was replaced by the MCC phantom cricketer Caspari, whom no-one thought would turn up as he was last seen in Venice but made everyone very happy to see him again. In the 17^th over with the score on 122, Algar retired having made his 50 off 50 balls. He was replaced by Brunskill who, together with Caspari, proceeded to nurgle off the required runs until Caspari went for 16 in the 27^th over with the score on 155. He was replaced by Sestan who played the straightest possible of straight bats to the three balls he faced leaving Brunskill to make the winning run, a single off Sampath.

The match finished at 17:22 leaving more than ample time to attack the cool fresh, enjoy the marvelous curry and marvel at the Sri Lankan predilection for whisky and coke. It was an enjoyable social occasion and many friendships deepened as a result, play hard and party hard afterwards being the motto, with the hope expressed that the event could be repeated in 2014.

As usual a group of hardy members, ten in all, retired to the Chinese Tower at around 8:30 and stayed until well after midnight sorting out the problems of the world.

Mitchell, 56, retired, 1 catch

Algar, 50, retired, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 3 wickets, 8 runs, 1 catch (nonchalantly)

Caspari, 16, bowled, 1 catch

Brunskill, 18*, 1 over, 0 mdns, 0 wickets, 3 runs, 2 catches

Fudge, DNB, 5 overs, 1 mdn, 2 wickets,15 runs

Sestan, 0*, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 1 wicket, 31 runs

Furlonger+, DNB, 2 catches

Nielsen, DNB, 5 overs, 2 mdns, 0 wickets, 16 runs

Rabbani, DNB, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 0 wickets, 29 runs, 2 catches

Garner, DNB, 6 overs, 1 mdn, 1 wicket, 14 runs

Staub, DNB, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 0 wickets, 22 runs

Blades*, DNB, 3.4 overs, 1 mdn, 3 wickets, 11 runs

MCC, 160 for 3 in 28.2 overs, beat SSC, 159 for 10 in 34.4 overs by 7 wickets

MCC MOM Algar

 

Footnote: Mitchell and Algar both count as “retired out” for the match result but MCC has always considered retired out as not out for the club statistics.

After two convincing victories – over SSC in the league and our first proper friendly victory of the season against the Pak Orient – it was off to West Park for the first round BCV T20 match against the MICs and MCC feeling hopeful. Unusually captain Sarma won the toss and chose to bat.

Veser and O`Meagher opened  and got off to a rollicking start before Veser went for 2 in the third over with the score on 20. Captain Sarma replaced him and put on 65 for the second wicket but went for 23 in the 9^th over with the score on 87, a rate of almost 10 runs an over. Two runs later O’Meagher went for 46 off 33 balls and Weston followed shortly afterwards scoring 6 off 12 balls hitting to Kashif, one of the few MIC Players able to catch it seemed. Nielson also went quickly  but Ferguson and Archer had a useful 6^th wicket partnership until Ferguson was bowled for 9 off 10 balls. Archer followed him one run later going for 30 off 24 balls. Clare and Rabbani hit some glorious fours, Clare scoring three fours in his 14 off 8 balls. Carrie and Rabbani played out the last over. Carrie being bowled for 5 off the final ball and MCC finishing on 171 for 9 down.

Ferguson and Blades opened the bowling for MCC and after four overs MICs were 30 for two, 10 of the runs being wides. After 13 overs MIC were 104 for 43 down, so slightly below the asking rate but then a couple of poor overs changed the game completely. The 14^th and 16^th overs went for 25 and 15 respectively and the MICs now needed only 22 to win off four overs. Nevertheles Carrie, Clare and particularly Ferguson almost did it, the MICs scrambling a leg bye to win off the penultimate ball, their captain Kashif finishing with 81 not out off 56 balls.

So MICs won a very close game but had they taken at least five pretty dolly catches they would have stuffed us as we all agreed in the post match analysis in the beer garden afterwards while listening to some old soft rock live music.

Veser 2, caught, 1 catch

O`Meagher, 46 caught,

Sarma, 23 caught, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 36 runs, 1 wkt

Weston, 6, caught, 1 stumping

Archer, 30 bowled, 1 over, 0 mdns, 15 runs. 0 wkts

Nielson, 1, bowled, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 21 runs, 0 wkts

Ferguson, 10, bowled, 3.5 overs, 0 mdns, 16 runs, 1 wkt

Clare, 14, bowled, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 36 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch

Rabbani, 10*,

Carrie, 5, bowled, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 26 runs, 0 wkts

Blades, DNB, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 19 runs, 2 wkts

MCC, 171 for 9 in 20 overs, lost to MIC, 172 for 4 in 19.5 overs by 6 wickets

MCC MOM O`Meagher

It was supposed to be a match against a touring team from Yorkshire, St Patrick`s but they cried off on Monday saying they had simply forgotten to tell us earlier and asking for help as to locations where they could watch the Ashes in Munich instead. Our old friends at Pak Orient stepped in and confirmed the fixture on Tuesday. It was a warm afternoon with a blue-white Bavarian sky, temperatures around 24°C and captain Sarma duly lost the toss so MCC fielded first. Blades and Clare opened the bowling for MCC and were soon among the wickets, with Pak Orient 64 for 3 in the 10^th over, the third wicket being a superb slip catch by Lovell off Clare’s bowling. The outfield was hard and scoring boundaries was never difficult but really only Omar and Waleed actually took advantage of this. In all MCC used eight bowlers, including new boy Bhamare who took one wicket and Veser excelling with his low-flying–aircraft threatening loopers, one of which accounted for Tahir, the Pak Orient stalwart. The last two wickets fell to Sarma in the 29^th over, one of them an amusing hit wicket and Pak Orient finished on 183 for 10, just over six per over.

After some French cuisine for teas, including seemingly armour-plated, unopenable plastic Wurst packages provided by Staub, MCC opened with Veser and Lovell to face Omar and Mustaza. They started modestly scoring at around four per over until Lovell fell in the 12^th over with the score on 60. He was replaced by new boy on the block Tom Mitchell who had fielded well and showed he had a superb throwing arm. Mitchell went for 13 off 13 balls in the 18^th over with the score on 91 and captain Sarma strode to the middle. He and Veser took MCC to the winning total of 184 after 28.5 overs, hitting 14 fours and one six in the process.

Veser, 80*, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 20 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch

Lovell, 19, LBW, 1 catch

Mitchell, 13, caught,

Sarma, 51*, 3.2 overs, 0 mdns, 12 runs, 3 wkts,

Van Giezen, DNB, – nearly had a catch but it was given out LBW

Staub, DNB,             1 over, 0 mdns, 21 runs, 0 wkts

Clare, DNB, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 23 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch

Garner, DNB, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 25 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch

Bhamare, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdnns, 19 runs, 1 wkt

Kantor, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 19 runs, 0 wkts

Blades, DNB, 6 overs, 0 mdns, 43 runs, 4 wkts, 1 catch

MCC, 184 for 2 in 28.5 overs, beat Pak Orient, 183 for 10 in 28.2 overs by 8 wickets

MCC MOM  Veser

Special thanks to Pak Orient for setting up a game on such short notice.

A glorious summer day at the Hirschanger, high hazy skies, 30° plus and a light breeze to help the sweltering fielders. An awful sight greeted us at the start, Helmuth had omitted to stock up on cool fresh but Sarma and Weston, who had turned up to watch, kindly collected a crate of Augustiner from Tengelman’s between riding the Eisbach.

Captain O’Meagher duly lost the toss and MCC were asked to field against the newly formed Cricket Club Bayern Munich. Clare and O’Connor opened the bowling and quickly set the standard with a couple of wides each in their respective first overs, an example which all MCC bowlers followed bowling 45 wides and four no-balls in total. Nevertheless O’Connor struck in the fourth over with another two wides and two wickets. He took a third in his third over and finished with 3 for 16 after four overs.CC Bayern Munich were then 35 for three after seven and when Saleem, their top scorer with 54, went in the 18^th over with the score on 89 we thought the game was pretty much ours. However two other batters, Quasim and Murtaza with 39 and 45 respectively had other ideas, helped by the fact that skipper O’Meagher played the friendly game properly and gave everyone who wanted a bowl. Including two new members in their maiden game, Thomas Nielson our athletic Viking and Scott Styris look–alike, James Kanton from New Zealand. The CCBM were all out for 228 in 31.4 overs, the total including 50 extras.

After a tea break which included another magnificent chocolate cake provided by Mrs. JET – can he not make himself available more often so we can pretend to be Brian Johnson on TMS?- MCC opened the batting with Veser and Brunskill. It looked to be a batting wicket but unfortunately Brunskill went LBW and joined the duck race after facing 9 balls. O’Meagher replaced him and with Veser put on 51 for the second wicket before Veser was bowled for 34 in the 10^th over, his knock including 7 boundary fours. O’Meagher and O’Connor put on another 49 for the third wicket, O’Meagher going for 32 in the 18^th with the score on 115. MCC were well up with the run rate but thereafter it all went more than a little pear shaped with the Great Dane the only notable score, going for 21 including one spectacular boundary six.

So MCC lost what had been a very friendly game and stayed around afterwards finishing off the Augustiner while’st following the antics of an Indian gentleman casing out the Hirschanger in anticipation of their independence day party to be held there on 15^th August. He declared himself not impressed with the facilities which so shocked us we were forced to retire to the Chinese Tower for additional refreshment.

Veser, 34, bowled, 1 catch

Brunskill, LBW

O’Meagher, 32 caught, 1 catch

O’Connor, 27, run out, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 16 runs, 3 wkts

Clare, 11, bowled, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 22 runs, 0 wkts, 1 catch

Nielson, 21, caught, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 28 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch

Sestan, 1, bowled, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 32 runs, 0 wkts

Garner, 2, caught, 2.4 overs, 0 mdns, 23 runs, 2 wkts, 2 catches

Blades, 6, run out, 5 overs, 1 mdn, 25 runs, 1 wkt,

Michahelles, 1, bowled, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 41 runs, 0 wkts

Kantor, 1*, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 40 runs, 2 wkts, 1 catch.

 

MCC 180-10 in 33.2 overs, lost to CCBM 228-10 in 31.4 overs, by 48 runs.

MCC MOM O’Connor

A hot sunny day, 30°C plus and MCC gathered at the Hirschanger at 11:15 to ensure we all arrived at the ground in Attaching in good time not to risk forfeiting the match after last week’s affray against MBCC,Captain Sarma broke with etiquette and allowed the home captain to call at the toss, who called correctly and chose to bat. Blades and Ferguson opened the bowling and Blades in particular was very tight for his first six overs being 2 for 22 after six. Ferguson took a break after three overs having bowled seven wide balls and was replaced by Polisetty playing in his maiden league game. Blades was obviously tiring and should probably have taken a break rather than bowl his eight overs straight through as he went for 23 runs off the last two. Wickets fell pretty regularly and at 20 overs Lufthansa were 101 for 4 down. The hard dry outfield mad it difficult for the fielders and a rate of 5 runs per over was thought to be pretty good. Lufthansa were all out for 194 after 38.4 overs, Ferguson taking a three-for. After the innings break, Verser and O`Meagher opened the batting for MCC and got off to a good start with Veser looking particularly the part. Unfortunately after facing three highish bouncers he was bowled for 15 by one which kept very low, the score being now 31 for 1. Nest in was captain Sarma and together with O`Meagher they put on 53 for the second wicket. Weston came and went quickly as did Algar and at 20 overs MCC were 98 for 4 down. Polisetty went for a couple in the 22nd over to be replaced by Ferguson. Who top scored with 47 and finally fell in the 37th over leaving MCC on 176 for 9. For a while it looked as if Carrie and Blades would take us there but an awful mix-ip lead to a run out and MCC were all out for 178.

Veser, 15 bowled,

O`Meagher, 29, bowled

Sarma, 31 LBW, 7 overs, 0 mdns, 25 runs, 2 wkts

Weston, 5 caught, 3 catches

Algar, 4, bowled

Polisetty, 2, caught, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 27 runs, 0 wickets, 1 catch

Ferguson, 47, bowled, 8 overs, 0 mdns, 49 runs, 3 wkts

Furlonger, 8, bowled

Rabbani, 9, LBW, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 17 runs, 0 wkts

Carrie, 1, run out, 6.4 overs, 1 mdn, 21 runs, 2 wkts

Blades, 1*, 8 overs, 0 mdns, 45 runs, 2 wkts, 1 catch

 

MCC, 178 -10, lost to Lufthansa, 194 – 10, by 16 runs MCC MOM Ferguson

Another summer’s day at the Hirschanger, meaning it had been raining on and off since Friday evening. Nevertheless the hardy squad gathered at the ground ready to start but couldn`t do so because of persistent rain. After two hours the umpires agreed to begin but the time lost meant it could only be a 25 over match. The boundary flags had not been placed and the CCB captain demanded that he be automatically awarded the toss claiming the playing area was not ready. The umpires rejected this, captains Appavu and Sarma made the toss, which CCB lost and MCC chose to field.

Immediately play began the drizzle returned but play continued. The CCB captain went second ball for a duck in Blades’s first over which rather lifted MCC spirits.  The bowling was tight and the very wet outfield made it difficult to score. Wickets fell regularly and when they were nine down for not very many, the CCB captain, who had been in the umpires ear all the innings, presumably hoping for an abandoned match and shared points, persuaded them to call a rain break. The rain stopped and the innings was reduced to 23 overs and at the close CC Bavaria were 104 for 9 down.

After a splendid tea provided by Clare – an emergency trip to a shop to purchase some gooey cakes –  Algar and O’Meagher took the field to open the batting for MCC. Algar stayed only three balls and couldn`t repeat his Zuoz heroics out caught for 3 off Sunil. In strode captain Sarma, clearly effected by the consistent attempts by the CCB captain to influence the umpires and proceded to carry his bat through the innings. He and O`Meagher made 20 for the second wicket, and, with Weston, 49 for the third. The rain had been increasing, CCB captain continued to bend the umpire’s ear and, after 17 overs, with MCC needing nine to win, they all came off.

After a long rain break the umpires insisted play be continued but the CCB captain at first refused to do so until he was advised he would be reported and there would be consequences. The last over was bowled by the captain himself – wide, wide, dot, two, three, four –  which was rather poetic.

MCC won the match in 17.5 overs by 7 wickets.

 

The umpires have written to say that the behaviour of the MCC players was at all times exemplary (clearly he didn`t see Chris Carrie beginning to explode).

 

Algar, 3, caught, 1 catch

O’Meagher, 15, caught, 1 catch

Sarma, 33*,

Weston, 31, caught, 2 stumpings

Archer, 10*

Rabbani, DNB, 3 overs, 0 mdns, 23 runs, 1 wicket,

Scott, DNB, …………………………………………………specialist fielder

Clare, DNB, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 29 runs, 1 wicket

Ferguson, DNB, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 21 runs, 1 wicket, 2 catches

Blades, DNB, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 17 runs, 3 wickets

Carrie, DNB, 5 overs, 0 mdns, 11 runs, 2 wickets

 

MCC, 107 – 3, beat CCBavaria, 104 – 9 by 7 wickets.

 

MCC MOM Blades

 

Note: the bowling figures may be slightly worse than you were expecting. Although the number of wides bowled per bowler were listed, they were not entered against the bowlers figures so I corrected that.

Footnote: The CCB captain received a one match ban for showing disrespect to the umpires and CCB finished up in the lower half of the league table meaning second Division cricket for them next year. The four points they would have received had the game been abandoned would have sufficed to move them into the top half of the table.

Finally a beautiful, sunny day at the Hirschanger with a blau-weisse Himmel and temperatures in the low twenties. The pitch had been laid out for the Friday evening nets, the grass being mown by VC O’Meagher, standing in for injured grass cutter Sestan

Ex-captain Tony Murphy, who played for us from 1986 to 1989 turned up to watch together with scoreboard manufacturer Stuart Bennett and elder statesmen David Carr and Doug Giles. Adschi Keim and Mansoor Chowdry of Pak Orient, who know Tony of old, also came along to say hello.

Captain Sarma won the toss but didn`t use the Maria Theresa silver dollar – was this to be an omen? Be that as it may, he chose to bat and MCC openers Veser and O’Meagher took the field. The grass mower fell in the fourth over, with the score on 13, to be replaced by Sarma. He and Veser progressed at a reasonable rate before Veser shouldered arms to one which moved in off the pitch and took his off stump. At 53 for 2 off 12 overs we were on track for what was considered to be a par score of around 180. Fudge came and joined the duck race after two balls but claimed he really wanted to get off to oversee the splendid teas he had provided which he then oversaw from the depths of Brunskill’s hammock. In came Weston and was looking very good until he received a superb ball from Sadiq, who took three wickets in total, which completely yorked him and he went for 12 in the 18^th over. At the drinks break MCC were 88 for 4 down. After drinks MCC pushed on apace mainly due to some hard hitting by Clare and Sarma and, at the close, MCC were 208 for 6 down, Sarma a superb 81*, a pretty reasonable score we thought.

Scott opened the bowling for MCC and went for a huge six off his first ball, a short shoulder high bouncer which Ali played very well. Clearly Nürnberg were going to go for it. Blades, the other opener also went for a six off the first scoring ball of his first over, again by Ali. Thereafter the bowlers were on top, conceding very few runs and, even more important, taking wickets. After 14 overs using the two opening bowlers Nürnberg were 58 for 5 down, Blades getting his 300^th wicket for the club in the process. Thereafter it all went a little pear shaped despite the usual parsimonious bowling from Ferguson. After 20 overs Nürnberg were 106 for 5 so looking to be a little in front. Wickets fell regularly, despite MCC’s propensity to drop catches or even not even get into position to make a dropped catch. Nürnberg’s top scorer, Wajid, fell to a very good catch by Scott on the boundary for 93, the total now being 180 for 8 and MCC had the upper hand. Then it was 188 for 9 in the 38^th over and 198 for 9 after the 39^th over so 11 needed to win in one over, with one wicket left but the “in” batsman on strike. A single and a dropped catch off the first ball brought their number 11 on strike. The first ball was a massive six leaving four to win off four balls. The second ball another massive six and Nürnberg had won by simply refusing to give up and leaving a shell-shocked MCC to lick their wounds with Helmuth’s cool-fresh and an after match tactical discussion at the Chinese Tower.

Veser, 23, bowled, 2 catches

O’Meagher, 5 caught,

Sarma, 81*, 3.3 overs, 0 mdns, 28 runs, 0 wkts,

Fudge, 0, caught & bowled,

Weston, 12, bowled, 1 catch

Ferguson, 7, caught, 8 overs, 2 mdns, 19 runs. 0 wkts

Clare, 28, bowled, 8 overs, 0 mdns, 29 runs, 1 wkt, 1 catch

Rabbani, 11*, 4 overs, 0 mdns, 33 runs. 2 wkts,

Garner, DNB, 2 overs, 0 mdns, 42 runs, 0 wkts

Blades, DNB, 7 overs, 1 mdn, 35 runs, 3 wkts

Scott, DNB, 7 overs, 4 mdns, 23 runs, 2 wkts, 1 catch

MCC, 208 for 6, lost to NCC, 211 for 9, by 1 wicket

MCC MOM, Sarma