MCCC v's Bank of England Saturday June 26 2004 @ Roehampton - Match Result Draw

Match Report to be posted here.

Match Photos

Part of the MCCC team assemble prematch
Johno Smacks another six

Phoenix rise to MCCC challenge
Saturday 19 June MCCC vs Phoenix at Gibraltar Recreational Ground, Ewell
40 overs (8 max per bowler) - start delayed by opposition (2.25pm)

We have not played Phoenix (formerly Epsom Liberals) before and the captain confirmed his side as medium strength. On a sunny day with showers predicted later, we won the toss and opted to bat. After an early wicket, Jono Pettit (76) and Mark Bartram (39) put on a superb 103 partnership off 23 overs to set up a solid start to the innings. After this partnership, however, only Steve O’Neil (26) and ‘extras’ (38) made it to double figures against a steady medium/fast – fast pace attack. MCCC made 205 for 9 off 40 overs which in hindsight was some 40 runs short of what was needed. The high score was in some part down to sloppy fielding by the opposition, very short boundaries behind both sets of stumps and a fast outfield.

Vic Luis and Steve O’Neil opened the bowling and managed to restrict Phoenix to around 35 off the first 10 overs. However, a change of bowlers after 10 overs saw Phoenix dominate our slow pace attack, taking between 6 and 7 runs an over off the three bowlers used. Imran was responsible for the first wicket (run out) with the score at 111. Abdul Hussain was brought on and his medium pace attack was rewarded with 1 wicket (the no 1 bat who made 90 runs) off 6 overs for 19 runs. Unfortunately, he was hit for 23 runs off his 7th and 8th overs with victory in sight for Phoenix. Tony Hammond took a wicket whilst a catch at long off was dropped off Graham Pinkney’s bowling. The pick of the bowlers was Vic Luis who, despite not taking a wicket, only conceded 22 runs (including a six) off his 8 overs. Phoenix ended on 207 for 3 off 36 overs to win the game.

Phoenix were able to dominate our slow pace attack with confident big hitting. With very short boundaries for the hit down the ground, opportunities to take catches at long on and long off were few and far between. All but one of the Phoenix batsmen were able to make significant scores and we were beaten by a stronger team. Thanks go to all who played and special thanks to Graham for sorting out the kit and Tony for scoring.

Mordern Corinthians V Hindhead

The day began well with clear skies and high optimism after two crushing victories on the Saturday and Sunday. This however was not to last after losing the toss Morden were put into bat. In good conditions and facing a hostile opening bowler Morden set about the task of posting a good score, as always happens however the weaker slower bowler at the other end caused problems by taking first the wicket of Graeme and then Ali. We proceeded to lose wickets until Jono and Brian came to the crease putting on fifty plus partnership. A great innings from Jono with some able support allowed us to put a reasonable total of 190 on the board somewhat short of the skippers wish of 220 knowing the batting strength of the opposition.

As Morden entered the field the rain had begun to fall making conditions very difficult for the bowlers. Jack Harris a semi pro opening bat for Hindhead also to the attack to the bowlers with some ferocious hitting. Despite a good example of line and length bowling from Charlie and some intriguing slow bowling from Tony, Graeme and Jono ( The ball would not have spun in a million years given how wet it now was) Hindhead reached the total with wickets and overs to spare.

On reflection there was little to have been done against the batting but one feels given better conditions to bowl in the result would have been a lot closer. The skipper would like to thank everyone for their efforts on the day as we all played a part with either the bat or ball.

Dave O'Brien

Jono give us all a lesson in batting at Moorlands College
by Andy Fletcher

MCCC opened the Bournemouth tour with a trip to Moorlands College. Fine drizzle greeted the players and the 40 over game was soon reduced to 35. Andy Fletcher and Brian Douglass opened the innings on a firm wicket, albeit with a greasy top. Andy was the first to go, caught by Morden stalwart Graham Pinkney filling in for Moorlands at mid-on.
Jono Petit joined Brian and they soon got to grips with the conditions and the bowling attack. Despite the long boundaries, both players played some lovely strokes and accelerated the run rate in the middle order. Brian was the next to go, bowled trying to force the pace for an impressive 44. Sam Cope joined Jono and supported him well with a blend of delicate flicks and meaty drives. These two put on a magnificent unbeaten 132 with Jono building for his fifty and then racing to his century to finish not out on 117. Sam remained unbeaten on 35 as Morden finished on 229.

In reply, Moorlands started briskly, with Jones and Bayley getting after Jim Patel and Steve O'Neil from the start. Steve was the first to break through, taking the wicket of Bayley and then bowling Jones for 37. Campbell maintained the momentum with an impressive 40, but started to run out of partners as the Morden bowlers tightened up the line. Mitul Patel was particularly effective, picking up three important wickets, including that of Graham to complete the win.

For the record
Moorlands College vs MCCC, May 29th, 2004
Conditions - Wet to start, overcast
Pitch - firm, flat
Match Captain - Andy Fletcher
Toss - won, batted.
Result - MCCC won by 96 runs

Bowling
J PATEL 6 1 22 0
S O'NEIL 8 1 27 3
T HAMMOND 6 0 39 1
M PATEL 7 3 17 3
S COPE 3 0 17 2

Batting order
Brian Douglass, Andy Fletcher, Jono Petit, Sam Cope, Steve Herat, Steve O'Neil, Tony Hammond, Jim Patel, Mitul Patel, Bradley Herat, Graham Pinkney

MCCC Saturday XI make it 4 in a row
MCCC v's Cuddington Casuals @ Overton Road

On an overcast day, MCCC skipper Andy Fletcher, lost the toss and found himself opening the innings with Krishna Murali in an overs game. The wicket was a bit patchy with a random sprinkle of dandelions, giving a varied bounce to the Cuddington Attack. Krishna was first to go, caught behind, chasing a wide one. The Skipper was soon following, out in almost identical fashion. The top-order began to wobble with the score showing 2 for 15! Mark Bartram was next out, again trying to force a shot of a loose delivery after a Cuddington bowling change. This was beginning to look like a vintage Corinthians collapse. Fortunately, Sam Cope fresh back from undergraduate exams, managed to shore up things with a powerful 25 with Imran Ahmad trying to keep up with pace with the pace of things. Imran hung around for while to notch up controlled 50 before throwing his wicket away with a tired shot. Steve O'Neil's quick-fire 21 combined with some tail-end resistance took the MCCC total to a respectable 165 for 9 off 40 overs, but was this going to be enough??

The task of bowling out the opposition began in earnest with Sam and Jess opening the attack. Sam in particular looking the more menacing of the two, whilst Jess stuck to his nagging line, giving nothing away. Ironically, Jess was first to strike with Sam taking a sharp chance at square leg. Sam again featured in the next dismissal this time bowling a peach of a delivery getting a nick before arriving in the safe hands of Steve Vickery. Things all of a sudden were looking very different. MCCC were on fire!!! Jess Bowled out giving only 8 runs away from his spell the pressure was firmly on Cuddington. First change was Krishna and then Tony Hammond. Krishna gave another consistent performance with the ball in his debut season. However it was Tony Hammond who did the major damage claiming 6 precious wickets, claiming the best bowling figures of the season so far 6-18. Cuddington were all out for 85 runs, with the final margin of victory being 80 runs.







Bowling Figures
Overs Maidens Runs Wickets
Sam Cope 6-1-19-2
Jess Sharling 8-5-8-1
Krishna Murali 8-1-26-1
Tony Hammond 7.2-1-18-6

MCCC Team
1.Krishna Murali, 2.Andy Fletcher, 3.Mark Bartram, 4.Sam Cope, 5.Imran Ahmad, 6.Viv Sharma, 7.Steve O'Neil, 8.Barek Choudhury 9.Jess Sharling 10.Tony Hammond, 11.Steve Vickery

Photo Links
Andy and Krishna going out to bat
Andy Fletcher discusses tactics
Barek doing the scoreboard
Mark Bartram and Jess Sharling look on
Jess attempts a drive
Sam Cope and Tony Hammond look on