GCC vs. MCC Match Report

Under clear skies and with the 1 XI’s Australian contingent dishing out lashings of humble pie to Lions supporters, GCC welcomed Merrow to Holloway Hill. Despite the insipid looking deck, the visitors won the toss and in looking to control the game, asked Mayne’s side to bat first.

The skipper was gifted a life early on when he nicked-off without scoring, only to find reprieve in Merrow’s Windus having over-stepped. While Mayne looked to take advantage, it was Milner that seized the initiative, revamping his hitherto “coalface” approach and bludgeoning the new ball to all corners. Exuding Trott’esque fluency, he crafted a deserved run-a-ball 50 in a century opening partnership. “The Goat” was cut short of a big score courtesy an excellent caught and bowled by Teale on Nelson in the 24th. Nonetheless, the home side were nicely poised on 111-1.

When Mayne was trapped in front by Taylor for 38, Shepherd and Agge looked to continue the positive start. Both scored freely, with the right and left hand combination manoeuvring the field well against the spinners. Challenged by a number of flighted deliveries, Shepherd in particular played some classy looking shots over long off. However, both departed having made starts. Shepherd fell lbw to Teale for 25, while Agge ran past one from Taylor to give the left arm spinner a second wicket.

This brought glamour boy O’Day and Hickey to the crease. The two have formed an effective middle order partnership in 2013, and once again set about making the most of a solid start. O’Day played with characteristic form through the posh side; Hickey less so. However, with both going at a run-a-ball, GCC were moving toward an imposing total. Credit to Merrow’s Taylor and Teale, who bowled with decent control, but little luck, on a truly flat pitch. Having watched O’Day hole out to Taylor for 39, Hickey repeated the same trick the next over for 47, leaving the home side 253-6 off 46 overs. There was still time for Gary Sewell to nick behind and give Taylor a deserved 5’fer, before the home side set Merrow a sporting chase of 262 off 52 overs.

GCC opted to persevere with the old ball, with skipper Mayne summoning the left arm tweak of Agge and Hickey. The former once again produced a fine spell, finding occasional spin and getting just rewards when he bowled Trendell. Hickey opted for the guile of the big full bunger outside off stump, which Teale promptly whacked to Mayne at mid-off. With both left armers finding some rhythm, Dyer gloved one behind, with stumper Clarke taking a sharp catch down the leg side. 26-3 off 12.

The predictable attrition ensued. Although disciplined, the bowlers were not extracting extravagant movement of any sort. Churaman was introduced, and the wily dobbler promptly burgled two scalps to reignite hopes. However, with Balche resolute in defence, the “near and yet so far” theme of many a previous timed match at Holloway Hill began to look a real possibility.

The new ball was taken at the 25th over and the dependable Elgar once again showed his knack for a breakthrough. When he lured Brown and the set Balch into drives, the momentum once again shifted. MCC’s Pidgen however was having none of it. The No.8 went about playing his shots, accelerating rapidly into the 40s.

However, Newman (who had batted 50 balls for his ten runs) became the 7th wicket when he was adjudged lbw to Agge, before Churuman swung one through Tyler’s defences to leave the visitors 141-8 off 46. More was to come when Hickey tempted Pidgen into holing out to long on, giving GCC four overs to snaffle the last.

Alas, MCC’s Taylor played with great composure. Despite a number of hollering appeals, the left hander survived, leaving the home side agonisingly short. GCC will once again rue a missed opportunity to climb the ladder.