FIXTURE V BLACKHEATH SELECT SATURDAY 24 MAY 2003

Morden CCC were only 10 strong for this fixture. Steve O’Neil won the toss and elected to field. The first 40 minutes brought Jess and Brian on as opening bowlers. The opening batsmen were able to put on 40 odd runs before the first wicket fell. Blackheath scored the first 100 runs for 3 wickets but lost the next 7 for 74. Good field placing put Keith on the deep long on boundary and he took a very good catch at full stretch – however the ball (and his foot) were over the boundary. Jess took a good striding catch at deep mid-on with Viv and Keith also taking catches later on. One of the most dramatic wickets was a direct run out by Brian from deep mid-wicket having only 1½ stumps to aim at. Jess took 3 wickets over a long spell of 15 overs, with Steve O’Neil and Graham taking 3 wickets each. Overall, the team did the basics well, holding catches, fielding diligently and covering well. Blackheath made 174 all out off 43 overs.

The Morden CCC innings started well with a 12 over partnership by Steve Herat and Barik Chowdhury scoring 22 and 16 respectively, both being dismissed lbw. After Keith was out, Brian was unlucky to get out for 8, driving a ball in the air straight towards long off. This brought Viv to the crease with Morden on 53 for 4 off 18 overs. Jess made a quick fire 13 before Tony Hammond came to the crease with the score at 67 for 5 after 20 overs. By this stage Morden had to score 108 in 16 overs, which in light of the very tight bowling was going to be a struggle. One of the Blackheath team bowled throughout and went on to take 5 wickets. Viv and Tony batted on for 10 overs before Viv was caught after scoring 8 and Tony went on to make an invaluable 19 before getting out in the 33rd over. Steve O’Neil, putting himself down the order, made an unbeaten 8 supported by Graham and Daniel Hoyt, our new American team member, who faced 2 balls with virtually the entire Blackheath team in short catching positions. Morden finished on 105 for 8 after 36 overs – match drawn.

MCCC match captain, Steve O’Neil Ramsadeo said that by fielding only 10 players, we had one of the weaker line ups for some time. However, we pulled together as a team with everyone raising their game. A superb fielding performance meant that crucially all catches were held and everyone chased hard. An all round good effort culminated in one of the more exciting drawn games of cricket.

SUNDAY MAY 25th 2003 V CROYGAS
GOT OFF TO A GOOD START, WINNING THE TOSS AND DECIDING
TO PUT THE OPPO IN ON A VERY CRACKED TRACK,
GOOD TIGHT BOWLING FROM CHARLIE AND HEINRIK
THEN JOE AND STEVE O'NIEL WITH CHRIS AND JIM P CLEARING UP
AT THE END WITH 3 WKTS EACH, RESTRICTING THE HOME TEAM TO
144 ALL OUT

CHASING 144 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TOO HARD BUT FOR SOME
VERY GOOD BOWLING AND A LOT OF MOVEMENT FROM THE PITCH
WICKETS FELL ALL TOO EASILY, EDGAR GOING IN 2nd OVER (0)
WADE IN 5th (8) THEN BRIAN (8) WE WERE STRUGGLING AT 21/3
JOE (38) AND STEVE O(19) PUTTING ON 69 PARTNERSHIP STEADIED THINGS
ONLY FOR 3 WICKETS IN THREE BALLS CAUSING A COLLAPSE,
WITH THE LAST FIVE PLAYERS ALL FAILING TO SCORE ENDING THE DAY
AT 96 ALL OUT.
SPECIAL MENTION TO STEVE HERAT(WKT) WHO ENDED UP IN HOSPITAL
WITH A NASTY GASH OVER LEFT EYE AFTER FAILING TO HOLD ONTO HEINRIKS
BALLS!!!, BEING UNABLE TO CONTINUE THE EVER TRUSTY BRIAN CAME INTO DEPUTISE
BEHIND THE STICKS.
THANKS TO EVERY ONE

Saturday 10th May 2003 MCCC vs Epsom Methodists

A mini injury crisis gripped the Corinthians at the start of this new fixture. The side learnt the sad news of Graham's hospitilisation (we wish you well Graham), while an x-ray on Imran's finger revealed a fracture. In a timed game, MCCC won the toss and elected to bat. In favourable conditions, we amassed an impressive total. Steve O'Neil (16) and Andy Fletcher (27) got the Corinthians off to a quick start, supported by Jono Petit's 31. Majid Rafiq continued his blistering form with a sparkling 80, falling only to a wonderful, instinctive catch having middled a cover drive. Just as the innings began to flag, Tony Hammond knocked a quickfire 21, along with Dave O'Brien's 18. A daunting total of 246 had been set.

Epsom began solidly, with the priority being the preservation of wickets. Jess Sharling broke through first in a great spell of 1 for 12 from 8 overs. Majid was the leading wicket taker with 3 for 30. As the game petered out, the bowlers rotated and the field closed in, in search of wickets, with tight bowling from Kam, Vic Luis, Jono Petit and Dave O'Brien. However, Epsom saw out the remaining overs and the game ended in a draw.

Monday 5th May 2003 MCCC v THE PRESIDENTS X1, KINGS PARK, BOSCOMBE

In this 35 over, 12 a side match, The presidents X1 won the toss and batted. They scored at a rate of over 4 an over, but steadily lost wickets, especially in their middle order. Good accurate bowling came from Charlie Cowburn, Jim Patel, Tony Hammond, Sam Cope and Steve O'Neil but an extra special mention must be made of young Metul Patel's bowling. Our 'man of the match' is a 12 year old colt and he showed us all, especially his dad Jim, just how it's done by taking 6 wickets for 24 runs in a very tidy 7 over spell. The Presidents X1 scored 162 for 10 wickets, with one of their players being 67 not out at the end.

After a steady start and with only a slight blip in the middle overs when the run rate ask climbed to nearly 7 an over, we comfortably reached our target with an over and a bit to spare, having lost only 4 wickets.

Captain James T Douglass of the Star Ship Golightly

Bournmouth Tour
Saturday 3rd May 2003 Morden Corinthians v’s Homefields College

Our first game on tour was against Gareth Jones’ Homefields college, where some of the Corinthians were struggling to find the venue. Luckily, between Gareth’s directions and Tony Hammonds map book we managed to start with a full compliment of players.

The Homefields Skipper opted not to bat first as the home’s side line-up was underpowered on this occasion. The weather was overcast and we were playing 40 overs-a-side game on an artificial strip with Morden Corinthians opening the match with Steve Heart and Robin Hutchins.

Robin was off to his usual brisk start with Steve H ably assisting. Robin was first out, playing onto his wicket after a strong partnership. Next in was Steve O. From here on in it was the ‘Steve and Steve’ show, both putting on 50’s before the Morden skipper, Imran Ahmad, asked them to sportingly retire (nothing to do with the fact Imran was batting at number 5!!) Suddenly the wickets started to tumble with a bit brief resistance from Ali Herat and Kam W. The Morden innings closed on 214-10 from 40 overs

Opening up the Morden bowling attack was the Kam and David. Kam’s first over was a cracker with 3 possible wicket taking deliveries. However, David was first to strike but then struggled a bit for consistency. Kam’s next over was even better knocking over the spring-loaded wickets. A silly run out left Homefields 3 wickets down. First change was the slower pace of Graham Pinkney and Tony Hammond, both bowling a tight line with Tony getting the most reward. Steve Herat despite carrying a foot injury sustained in nets that week took brisk stumping chance created by Graham’s bowling. Zafar then polished off the tail with bowling at the other end towards the of the match.

In conclusion, a good game for MCCC, which to be fair was an easy victory. However I would like to thank the Corinthians side for their sporting behaviour by giving others opportunities to participate in the match.