MCCC vs Epsom Methodists - Saturday 19th August.
The greatest one day game ever.

On a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon, play looked unlikely but both captains agreed to a least try and get a game played. Stand in skipper Brian Clifford lost the toss and was invited to bat. The pitch ground resembled an Autumn football pitch, green and wet with a large muddy patch in the middle where all the action was to take place.

Several team changes from last week, with Vivek, Saugata, Tom Vettiket, Chirag, Arvind, Tush and David Lumby making way for Duncan, Imran, Raj, Vikram, Tom Rebane, Girish and Hament.

Girish and Matt opened up and while the scoring was slow they gave us a platform to build on. Girish (17) was adjudged lbw to a ball that kept low and darted back in (according to our impartial umpire) this brought to an end a run of 336 unbeaten runs from Girish. He was not amused.

Matt kept the scoring ticking over with the returning Imran who upped the run rate by lofting the ball over the infield. Unfortunately the majority of the aerial shots plugged when they bounced, so good value was not gained. (Equally, anything driven along the floor was slowed down by the wet outfield).

Matt eventually departed with an amusing charge and swish at the aged off spinner. He'd made 20 when he was stumped. Luckily for Matt his injudicious dismissal did not live long in the mind, because Ewan came to the wicket and looked in fine form before trying to repeat his reverse sweep shenanigans of two weeks ago. This time he got a huge top edge and was caught at cover. Somehow the fielder kept a straight face long enough to take the catch. Ewan out for 4 and at 68-3 off 21, Epsom smelt blood.

Hament came to the crease intent on avenging his brother's harsh dismissal. In an uncharacteristally agressive knock he put on 36 in 9 overs with Imran, timing the ball beautifully on both sides of the wicket. Stand out shot was an off drive over long off for 4. The stand was broken when Hament tried to repeat the dose and was well caught at mid off for 19.

6 overs left and it was time to attack. Vikram was bumped up the order to pinch hit, he made 3 off 3 balls then was bowled by a full toss which appeared to be going at his head, then took middle stump out of the ground. (Think Chris Read against that Chris Cairns slower ball).

After that it became a procession, Theo came and went for 2 running himself out valiantly for the team cause. Brian made another duck, chipping the ball to cover. Imran was still in on 32 but then holed out to long on trying to up the run rate.

This left Duncan Wheeler (15*) and Tom Rebane (the greatest cricket Canada have ever produced) to pull us towards a competitive total. Both men played well, running balls into gaps where necessary and going for the big slash whenever Tom (2*) was on strike. This mixed approach got us to a total of 135 which looked below par as the sun came out with about 10 overs left of the innings and made stroke playing a little easier.

Stand out figures for the oppo were Morris 7-1-14-3. A silver haired off spinner who took Matt, Ewan and the prize wicket of Brian.


Brian and Raj opened the bowling for MCCC, hunting for early wickets to peg back Epsom. Brian beat the bat several times, but couldn't find the edge (or the top of off stump). Eventually a sharp chance was offered to Imran at square leg, but he couldn't cling on. Fortunately the breakthrough came in the next over, Raj getting one to shoot along the floor and take middle stump out of the ground. Raj bowled a very quick spell and was unlucky not to take more than one wicket.

Duncan and Girish were first change bowlers and while Girish was dead straight, Duncan struggled for line and length. (There was no sign of his golden ball, the inswinging full toss that hits the bottom of off stump)

Tea was taken with Epsom looking rosy at 48-1 off 13. 87 were required off of the last 32 overs. Things did not look good for MCCC.

Refreshed after a hearty tea, MCCC came back out with a plan. Brian and Raj opened the bowling again and while the batsmen struggled for runs, the break through remained elusive. Brian bowled out (7-1-11-0) and Raj kept one over back for a burst at the tail.

In a move which was half inspiration and half desperation, Brian threw the ball to Imran to bowl down the hill. Brian bumped into Imran on the Friday at the Oval and he'd talked up his bowling. Well, it was time to see if he could walk the walk. The field was brought in to stop the singles and build some pressure....

Theo was entrusted with the ball at the other end (an interesting move, since Theo's record for the club was 6-0-39-0 before Saturday). While he kept a tidy line and length, there was no penetration. It was time to bring Girish back at the other end to bowl in tandem with Imran.

Controversy struck moments later when a full toss from Imran was slapped high to Duncan on the point boundary who, as usual, made no mistake and pouched the catch. However the umpire called no ball on height, just as the ball was disappearing down Duncan's throat. Nobody was amused and next delivery when the batsmen backed away just as Imran was about to bowl words were exchanged. Things were getting tense.

Two balls after that, the same batsmen punched one in the air to Brian at point and he made no mistake. 91-2 chasing 136. MCCC were well behind the game still, but pressure was building and MCCC were not going to let this slip without a fight (quite literally).

Girish continued to bowl dead straight at the stumps. Their number 3 was a classy looking left hander, but his main shot was a paddle off of his legs. With Brian at leg slip and Vikram at backward square, this cut off his scoring areas and the run rate dropped with a new bat at the other end.

Imran continued to bowl straight and quick at the other end. He got one to rise on the new batsman and Brian took a sprinting, diving catch at short-point. 95-3. Hello, have we got a game on here? The celebrations from Morden certainly suggest so.

Girish continued at the other end. Epsom are well and truly bogged down. The running is getting sketchy, half chances for run outs are coming. The left hander is still struggling to get the ball away. He spots a half volley and tries to hammer it over the long off but doesn't time it and gives Girish a sharp caught and bowled right in front of his face. The danger man has gone, Epsom are 4 down and Morden are cock a hoop!

The required run rate is still a very friendly 4 an over. However the Epsom tail are bricking it. Presumably because they are used to just batting out in timed games when things get hairy (see match report from 2 weeks ago). Brian has no problem with reminding the batsmen at every opportunity that the run rate is rising and they can't bat out for a draw.

One over left from Imran, can he grab another wicket? A thick edge goes over fly slip, but a good chase from Matt keep them to 2 and keeps the new batsman on strike. Another thick edge straight after and it's down Matt's throat! 5 down. GAME ON! MCCC are absolutely rampant now. Imran finishes his spell with 7-3-14-3.

Girish keeps it gun barrel straight at the other end at the batsman pulls up strokeless. 6 defensive shots and it's another maiden. Equation is 35 required off 5. Morden need 4 wickets.

Imran has bowled out, Brian throws the ball to Theo and tells him, more out of hope than anything, that he's backing him to win the game. First ball, on the top of off stump, gloved through to Ewan behind the stumps. Unbelievable. What a time to take your first wicket for the club. I've never seen Theo move so far, running around like a headless chicken, hugging everyone. I'm sure he kissed Ewan at some point. 3 wickets left, the rest of the over is straight and they struggle to get it away. 30 off 4 required. 3 wickets needed.

Girish bowls another straight over. Hardly anything comes from it, a couple of leg byes, a few mistimed hoiks. 22 needed off 3 overs.

Theo again from the top end, oh dear. He struggles with his line, anything on the stumps is swung away towards the boundary. Two catches drop just short of fielders. Finally the last ball is shot straight up in the air and Ewan pouches it behind the stumps. Muted celebrations, 8 needed off 2 overs. 2 wickets required.

Girish to bowl the final over up the hill, everyone on the single. Consensus is that he needs to take 2 wickets to win the game. A couple of crazy singles are taken which shows Epsom are still, literally, running scared. 4th ball takes the off/middle bail. 4 runs needed to win, 1 wicket to win. The last batsman to come in is the same umpire that no balled Imran's wicket just as Duncan caught it. Oh the fun. Last two balls are survived it's down to the last over.

Raj is trusted with the last over. Oh no he isn't. Oppo claim he's bowled all seven of his allotment. Brian knows this is wrong and is fuming. His well thoughtout plan is coming undone due to some duff scoring from the opposition. He looks around the field for options, Duncan is not keen, he's heading off somewhere towards the point boundary as quickly as he can. Vikram is very keen, but in the warm up struggled to pitch the ball on the strip. Matt Oliver already has his jumper off and is marking out his run up! Fair enough, he talks a good game. Let's see if he can back it up.

It's Matt against the silver haired spinner who bowled so well earlier. First ball, on off stump. Blocked away. Second ball, same. Third ball, tried to hack it away. Dollies up in the middle of the pitch and is safe. 4 needed off 3 balls. Fourth ball, on the top of off, cut away to point where Brian pouches his third catch. Morden win!

Incredible scenes. Having been 90-1 needing 46 off 20 overs, somehow we pull it back and win.

Man of the match

Imran. Runs, wickets. What a comeback!

Monty moment

Theo did field one with his face off his own bowling.

Jonty moment

Three catches for Brian

Champagne moment

Too many to say. Matt's last over I suppose!

MCCC vs. Riverside 12th August
Match Played at: Raynes Park
Match Played home or away: Home
Date of match: 12/08/2006
Weather: Patchy overcast, bit of rains and windy!
Toss won by: MCCC won toss and bowled
Pitch Condition: Perfect for bowling!
Match Format: 40 Overs each
MCCC Total: 195 for 8
Opposition Total: 193 for 9 after 40 overs
Match Result: MCCC win!
MCCC Man of the Match: Majid Rafiq for his hattrick

Match Report:After a tight and competitive run-fest a couple of weeks ago against Riverside, the game on Saturday was poised to be a one of those hard matches between two very capable teams. MCCC were keen to see what the oppo would throw at them after the closely contested previous meeting where MCCC prevailed by1 run. Well the oppo did not disappoint with them bringing in an opening bowler to stengthen their side.


After much discussion and debate about pitch conditions, weather, ball wear, the chasing ability of the opposing team and Keith "twinkle toes" Pilgrim's fielding antics, our well informed captain decided that it would be best if we bowled first if we were to win the toss.

Throwing all recent form out the window AJ actually managed to pick the winning side of the coin and we were on track to follow up our "bowl them out early" plan, even though our run chasing history throughout the season has been poor to say the least.

With a little dampness and overcast conditions our openers Roy and Chris applied a run restricting opening spell using a combination of great in swing bowling and short pitch pace. After 10 over the oppo were 34/0. Just when they thought they had seen off the openers, AJ (aka Harold Larwood) and his "bodyline" bowling managed to rattle the openers into losing their first wicket. AJ directing most deliveries at the bat only if it was in front of the batsman’s face. 20 overs now gone and the bowlers had done a sterling job restricting the score to 61/3, it was left to "Magic" Majid to clean up the rest of the squad with his mesmerizing spin, completing a hat-trick without anyone actually realising it. The boys eagerly crowding the bat to and try get the hatrick, not realizing it had all ready been achieved. The rest of the their innings was a flurry of runs, wickets and Roy managing to split the webbing between his fingers so he could have a second go at taking a catch (which he did very well to take). The boys bowled well, and Steve Vickery did great job behind the stumps taking a blinder of a catch as well as providing some very unsettling pieces of advice about pissed off South African Bowlers to the oppo batsman. In all the plan seemed to have worked but MCCC did throw away around 50 runs through dropped catches, dodgy umpiring and well, some anger inducing sportsmanship from certain oppo batsmen. The scene was set for the great run chase.

Batting:

Opening partnership of Steve "Lambada" O'neil and Mark “ Trigger”Bartram started at a good pace with “Lambada” dancing some great shots through the offside and Mark “Trigger” Bartram punishing anything which was remotely near the pitch. Mark blazing into the 30’s before being given out LBW and Steve succumbing in the 20’s and dirty dancing his way back to the pavillion. Nick “On the Up” Hughes strode to the crease and proceeded to play his usual array of glorious cover drives. The Kiwi seems to believe that if the ball lands somewhere near the middle to off area then it is getting wellied through the covers. Nick seemed to demoralize the bowlers with his ability to cover drive any length, including bouncers it seems. Nick departed the scene with a leg glance which went a bit wayward. Majid came and went pretty quickly. Azzam “to Hot to play “cricket strode in for the first time in 6 weeks and played a great innings, including a tree felling straight six. Keith turned on the calypso style delighting his hordes of fans before being caught and calypsoing it back to the pavilion... So MCCC had somehow managed to let a commanding position slip and were now in some trouble. Still needing 50 odd off of 10 overs but now with 4 wickets to spare. Chris Strode in, played a shot and strode out again. AJ left the pavilion to make his way to the centre with the chairman’s words ringing in his ears “Use the force Luke” just kidding his words were we need a captains innings. AJ “who received a golden duck the last time the teams met” then took guard, mentally built his innings and attempted to welly the first ball he received. Unfortunately bat and batsman were obviously on different scripts, bastsman thinking he would smash the ball through the covers and the bat beleiving it would be best to feather quite a large nick to the keeper. By this time MCCC were in slight bother. Roy had managed to get back from the hospital and changed from his gown into his whites. He proceeded to build a nice partnership with azza, before azza got out having clearly decided that getting out was a better option than allowing Roy to run him into cardiac arrest. The boys could only sympathize with azza and a discussion ensued on who has the stamina and speed to match up to Roy’s famous “there is 2 there to second slip” running style.. Cuan “ Sledge” Brown strode in with strict instructions to throw anchor and allow “Two Fingers” Cummings to score. Q duly obliged by getting the first bit of bat on ball all season, with some solid defence and a few classy scoring shots. Cuan “I will not yield " Brown held the beasts at bay whilst Roy did his best to turn the beasts into kittens. Anyway after a major scare where Roy decided to reverse sweep his reverse sweep ( don’t ask we didn’t know which direction he ended up pointing) the boys carried us home with 2 over’s and two wickets to spare.


Notable performances:
Maj bowling hat trick
Roy batting
MCCC Batting Order:
1. S O Neil - 23
2. M Bartram - 35
3. N Hughes - 18
4. M Rafiq - 7
5. A Malik - 32
6. K Pilgrim - 12
7. C Whitfield - 1
8. A Jarrett - 0
9. R Cummings - 44
10. C Brown - 13
11. S Vickery - DNB
Bowling:
R Cummings 6 - 1 - 13 - 0
C Whitfield 8 - 1 - 32 - 1
A Jarrett 8 - 2 - 24 - 2
N Hughes 8 - 0 - 40 - 0
M Rafiq 6 - 0 - 48 - 4 hat-trick
A Malik 3 - 0 - 30 – 1
S O Neil 1 - 0 - 1 - 0
R/outs:Malik/Hughes/Bartram
Catches:
S Vickery x 2
R Cummins x 1 split finger webbing
N Hughes x 1
C Whitfield x 1
A Malik x1

MCCC vs. Old Fulham Prims Saturday 5 Aug 2006

Match Played at: Tudor Close
Match Played home or away: Away
Weather:Hot, sunny and blue sky
Toss won by: MCCC won toss and batted
Pitch Condition: Uneven
Match Format: Overs Game (40 per side)
MCCC Total: 190

MCCC Batting Order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Notable batting performances:
Who scored the runs?
Steve O'Neil
Jason Ware

Oppostion Total: All out for 6 wickets

Notable Bowling performances:
Jim Patel 3 wkts

Match Result: MCCC win

Champagne moment:
Jim Patel bowling Keith Pilgrim 1st ball

MCCC Man of the Match: Jim Patel

Additional Comments about match:
Any muppet moments?

What was the tea like?NO TEA PROVIDED

MCCC vs. Epsom Methodists Saturday 5 Aug 2006

Match Played at: Ewell
Match Played home or away: Away
Date of match:05/08/2006
Weather: Hot and humid
Toss won by: MCCC won toss and batted
Pitch Condition:Uneven
Match Format: Timed Game
MCCC Total: 206 for 9

MCCC Batting Order:
1. G Patel - 56* (retired hurt)
2. C Patel - 19
3. D Lumby - 20
4. V Sarohia - 1
5. D Wheeler - 17
6. D Denize - 21
7. H Patel - 9
8. E Cotter - 16
9. B Clifford - 19
10. T Rebane - 11
11. R Wainer - 2*

Notable batting performances:
Another 50* from Girish again gave MCCC an excellent platform - and passes the 300 mark without being dimissed! Good support also came from David Lumby and Daniel Denize contributed with a (very) quickfire 21.
Mr Extras again had a fine performance, second top scoring on 25. David, Ewan, Tom and Richard all registered their highest scores for the club.

Oppostion Total:116 for 5
Notable Bowling performances:
Solid bowling and fielding performance throughout the team. David bowled with excellent pace, line and length and was unlucky to register just 2 wickets. Brian also chipped in with 2 wickets, passing the 20 mark for the season.

Match Result: Match drawn

Champagne moment:
Ewan Cotter played a reverse sweep! Other than that it was an excellent team performance in the field ensured Epsom never had a sniff of MCCC's total.

MCCC Man of the Match: Girish for another unbeaten 50

Additional Comments about match:What was the tea like? Good standard

Form data

===========================================
== New entry
===========================================

-------------------------------------------
-- Form: 'Match_Report_Template'
-------------------------------------------

1. Opposition Name:
'Fulham Primatives CC'
2. Match Played at:
'Tudor Close'
3. Match Played home or away:
'Away'
4. Date of match:
'08/05/2006'
5. Weather:
'Hot, sunny and blue sky'
6. Toss won by:
'MCCC won toss and batted'
7. Pitch Condition:
'Uneven'
8. Match Format:
'Overs Game (40 per side)'
9. MCCC Total:
'190'
10. MCCC Batting Order:
'1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.'
11. Notable batting performances:
'Who scored the runs?

Steve O'Neill
Jason Ware'
12. Oppostion Total:
'All out for 6 wickets'
13. Notable Bowling performances:
'Who got the wickets?

Jim Patel 3 wkts'
14. Match Result:
'Morden win'
15. Champagne moment:
'Jim Patel bowling Keith Pilgrim 1st ball'
16. MCCC Man of the Match:
'Jim Patel'
17. Additional Comments about match:
'Any muppet moments?

What was the tea like?

NO TEA PROVIDED'

MCCC vs. Downsiders - Sunday 6 Aug 2006

Match Played home or away: Home
Date of match: 08/06/2006
Weather: Hot, sunny and blue sky
Toss won by: MCCC won toss and batted
Pitch Condition: Damp but firm
Match Format: Overs Game (40 per side)
MCCC Total: 273

MCCC Batting Order:
1. Brain Douglas 41
2. Steven Cumings 40
3. Nick Hughes 30
4. Majid Rafiq 11
5. Steve O'Neil 09
6. Gerry Coetzer 30
7. Roy Cumings 60
8. Craign Harper 22
9. Andrew Jarret 06
10. Tony Hammond 02 not out
11. Tush Wadhwa 03 not out

Notable batting performances:
Roy Cumings 60
Brian Douglas 41
Steven Cumings 40
Nick Hughes 30
Gerry Coetzeer 30
Craig Harper 22'

Oppostion Total:145

Notable Bowling performances:
Roy Cumings 3.3-1-13-4
Craig Harper 7-1-25-2
Andrew Jarret 5-1-26-1
Tony Hammond 4-0-14-1
Nick Hughes 7-0-35-1'

Match Result: MCC won by 128 runs

Champagne moment:
Far too many due to some Wicked Batting and Craig finally using his new bat !'

MCCC Man of the Match: Roy Cumings

Additional Comments about match:
An improvement on most home teas as there was plenty to eat. Steve O was even offering sandwiches to spectators after the game !!

MCCC vs Reigate Priory - Saturday 29 July 2006

Match Played at: Raynes Park
Match Played home or away: Home
Weather: Warm but cloudy
Toss won by: MCCC won toss and bowled First
Pitch Condition: Damp but firm
Match Format:
Overs Game (40 per side)
MCCC Total: 186-7

MCCC Batting Order:
1. Satish V 5
2. Chirag P 24
3. Theo M 14
4. Tony H 6
5. Ewan C + 2
6. Duncan W 17
7. David C 16
8. Daniel D 39*
9. Raj S 5*
10. Brian C* DNB
11. N/A'

Notable batting performances:
Daniel Denize (39) guided the team home in fine fashion from a very precarious position, doing it largely in boundaries with time to spare. Also note a fine, quick start from Chirag Patel (24) supported in keeping us at 6 an over by Theo Moore (14). Vital mid-innings knocks of 17 and 16 from Duncan Wheeler and David Clifford respectively kept the boat afloat. In the end, MCCC reached their total from 28.4 overs, but with only two wickets to spare in an exciting finish. It is worth noting that 51 extras were conceded by the oppo in those 28.4 overs, including a frankly incredible 32 wides

Oppostion Total:185-4

Notable Bowling performances:
Well, there were only four...although how Daniel D didn't take more, with his dangerous bowling swinging both ways is a mystery that will confuse historians through the ages. Brian bowled a top opening spell, with line, length, swing and carry, taking 2-24. Satish bowled incredibly economically, with only four runs from his four overs.

Brian C 8-1-24-2
Raj S 5-0-32-0
Daniel D 8-0-39-1
David C 7-0-45-0
Tony H 4-0-21-0
Satish V 4-1-4-0
Duncan W 4-0-11-1'

Match Result: MCCC Win by 2 wickets

Champagne moment:
Theo Moore really knows how to signal a wide, along with Satish for his dancing to commemorate the 150 up.

MCCC Man of the Match: Daniel Denize

Additional Comments about match: 'Great teas again.

Monty award: Brian for his erratic throwing
Jonty award: A decent performance from one-time "liability" (T Hammond) Ewan in his debut behind the stumps.

Morden Corinthians vs Bagshot 4ths (away)

MCCC's second Saturday side fielded a much changed line up in an away match at Bagshot on Saturday. Playing for the first time were:

Duncan Wheeler - RH bat, RM bowler. Friend of Brian from workDavid Clifford - RH bat, RM bowler. "Smaller" brother of BrianVikram Sanger - RH bat, Wk. Former schoolmate and drinking partner of Brian.Raj - RH bat, RFM bowler. Former schoolmate and drinking partner of Brian.

We also welcomed back John Spurgin from his self-enforced absence.

The game took place in front of a large crowd, all of which were there to watch the Farnborough airshow (bar Brian and David's Dad and John's missus).

Brian lost the toss and was asked to field. As usual he claimed he was going to do that anyway. The skip resisted the temptation to open with a Clifford at both ends, instead throwing the new ball to Richard Wainer for the first time.

It was Richard who looked the most dangerous, drawing an edge early on which was dropped by Clifford jnr at point. The breakthrough came soon after, another edge being taken in Collingwood fashion by John Spurgin. Soon after Brian took a wicket with a long hop (two in two weeks), Duncan taking a fine catch at square leg.

After this Bagshot bedded down and played with caution, building a decent partnership despite an impressive spell from Clifford jnr. Eventually David broke the partnership with a generous looking lbw shout. Duncan Wheeler then took a smart caught and bowled to put Morden in a commanding position.

Unfortunately we couldn't convert this into a match winning situation. Two colts (small boys) took the attack back to us, scoring 40 and 38 respectively. Eventually Brian brought himself back and took two quick wickets, including bouncing out one small boy with a well directed short ball at his face.

Unfortunately at the end of 40 overs we were faced with a total of 190 to chase. It would have been a lot different had Raj not bowled very tightly at the death (finishing with a wicket maiden!)

Our innings started quickly, with Vikram Sanger despatching the ball to all parts. His exciting cameo came to an end on 25 when he prodded forward for the first time and was bowled. This brought Tom Rebane to the wicket who smeared his first ball for four, providing the biggest cheer of the day (his first runs for the club). Sadly he couldn't repeat the trick next ball and was caught at slip for 4 off 2 balls.

After that it became a procession, Theo came and went for a classy looking 8. Ewan holed out on 3. Duncan remained unbeaten on 8* but Raj (0), David (1), John (1), Brian (0) and Richard (0) couldn't provide any assistance.

MCCC were bundled out for 56, their lowest total of the season and a loss by 124 runs. The stars of the opposition bowling attack were two colts who took 6 wickets between them. We now know that their colts all play for Hampshire at various age groups, so the defeat is a little easier to take.

All of Morden's debutants acquitted themselves well, despite varying levels of rustiness.

Man of the match - Vikram Sangar kept well taking two catches and scored nearly 50% of the runs.

Jonty - John Spurgin's diving catch at first slip. Reminiscent of Strauss in the Ashes last year.

Monty - Nobody springs to mind. Ewan "Jonty" Cotter was not at his finest, thanks to a raging hangover.

Morden Corinthians vs Turners Hill. Sunday 15th July 2006

Vivek's Saturday side travelled to Sussex for a rematch with Turners Hill, having beaten them by 10 wickets at the end of June. The home ground was a pretty field in the middle of nowhere, complete with pavillion and net facility. The early arrivals made use of the nets to warm up, with Vivek turning over his arm particularly enthusiastically (it is no secret that our skipper is a frustrated pace bowler).

Eventually the home side arrived in time for a late 2-30pm start. Vivek lost the toss and was asked to bat. Matt and Girish opened the batting, starting cautiously in the face of some unplayable bowling (mainly because it was so wide). Matt began to find his feet, cutting and pulling with authority on his way to (insert score) but then chased a wide long hop and put it straight down the throat of wide cover. This brought Ewan Cotter to the crease, with a grand total of 2 runs this season the opposition will have sensed an opportunity.

However Ewan played sensibly, leaving the wide rubbish and defending stoutly to the rare straight balls. After settling in Ewan began to play his shots on both sides of the wicket, the pick being a clubbing on drive and a loften drive over the bowlers head which would have been six on a smaller ground. His cameo ended soon after on 13 (a personal best), when he defended forward to an off break which then bounced backwards off the pitch and bowled him.

Vivek then entered the fray, immediately playing with authority and confidence on the back of his fifty the previous week. At the same time Girish was his usual self - compact, composed, elegant and unruffled, his batting has been a joy to behold this season. These two were only separated by an injury to Girish causing him to retire hurt on 63 (his fourth consecutive fifty). One Patel replaced another, with Hament playing an unselfish knock to up the run rate, Anand followed soon after to make 14* with Vivek 45* at the tea break which brought an end to our innings.

After an excellent set of teas Morden took to the field with David taking the "new ball". He did not disappoint, getting movement and swing out of the new ball to pick up 4-27 backed up by some nimble keeping from our very own Chris Read. Brian plugged away at the other end, but couldn't match his partner's efforts (although he would have ended with 4-for had our catching been up to scratch).

Anand and Richard replaced the new ball bowlers, with both of them immediately hitting their groove. Anand picked up his first wickets for the club, but the second wicket came at a high price. He fell in his delivery stride and injured his knee. Play was suspended for 45 minutes until an ambulance arrived and Anand and David headed off to East Sussex hospital.

This left 9 man Morden needing two wickets in 18 overs. Richard mopped up the tail expertly, taking two in two balls, a notable mention for the last wicket. Richard tore in at their last man (a 12 year old boy) who promptly tried to chip the ball over square leg. Unfortunately for aforementioned small boy, the square leg was Brian Clifford, who nonchalently jumped to take a one handed catch over his head.

Game over and a convincing win for MCCC.

Man of the match - David Lumby. Awesome bowling performance, finally his figures reflect how well he's bowled!

Monty award - Theo Moore. A gentle prod towards Theo at square leg should have been easy pickings, except Theo tried to trap it with his foot and missed it. He then turned to chase after it but fell flat on his face, after lying there for a bit he got up and chased it down. (It should be noted that apart from that he fielded excellently)

Jonty award - Vivek Sarohia took two catches behind the stumps. He can have the award so that he stops moaning about getting Monty awards. (Notable mention for Richard Wainer who took a great catch off of Brian. The ball was heading straight for his face, so it's a good thing he caught it!)

Other memorable moments - Girish racking up 4 fifties in a row with little fuss. Vivek's knock was also exciting to watch.