MCCC vs Badgers CC
Saturday 25 August 2007

Lost by 56 runs

[Opposition Match Report]

MCCC vs Epsom Methodists
Saturday 18 August 2007

Lost by 28 Runs

[Opposition Match Report]

MCCC vs Epsom Methodists
Saturday 15 September

Lost by 7 wickets

[Opposition match report]

MCCC vs Burgh Heath (away)
2nd June 2007

Brian's team departed for Burgh Heath, still searching for that elusive win. And with only 10 men. The signs were not good, although the weather certainly was!

Brian lost the toss and was inserted. In a sudden stroke of inspiration, ego, desperation, who knows, he decided to open the batting. Vivek had the honour of accompanying him. Vivek quickly got off strike and left the captain to get him in front three times, before finally being pinged out by Richard Wainer to a high looking decision. Cotter (3) came and went soon after. Tom Compton score 8 exciting runs before top edging to slip. Fergal made a duck on his 2nd team debut. Amidst this carnage Vivek also disappeared (out, rather than just upping and leaving).

21-5. Same old, same old. Adam Walker and Amit Khare (on debut) came together and slowly rebuilt the innings. Then they accelerated in fine fashion, both of them smashing it to all parts. The pair brought up their respective 50s within a few moments of each other, then sadly they both perished within a few moments of each other! Tallat Choudhry (22) and Geoff (5) added some late resistance and we managed to post 179-9, our highest score of the season by some distance!

The boys steeled themselves at tea, knowing that a first win of the season was within their reach.

Alas, it was not to be. A very strong batting performance made short work of MCCC's bowling. Our slower bowlers acquitted themselves nicely, but by the time they were introduced the game was all but over. Tom Compton and Tallat Choudhry returned tidy figures, but the rest of the attack was put to the sword on a hot afternoon. Eventual margin of defeat was 8 wickets.


MCCC scorecard

Sarohia 3
Clifford 0
Cotter 3
Compton 8
Diver 0
Walker 53
Khare 59
Choudhry 22
Balasoglou 5
Wainer 3*

Extras 23

Total 179

MCCC bowling

Balasoglou 8-0-47-1
Wainer 5.3-0-32-0
Khare 7-0-33-0
Clifford 5-0-38-0
Chaudhry 4-0-14-0
Compton 3-0-8-1
Cotter 1-0-8-0

MCCC vs Caterham 4ths (aka The Mighty Fours)

19th May 2007

Brian's boys descended on Caterham, searching for their first win of the season. The opposition turned up slightly late, slightly drunk and dressed on cowboys outfits.....

Clifford won the toss and inserted the opposition, who were gutted because they couldn't continue to drink heavily. The signs were promising and became even more so after a clatter of early wickets. Dean Scott picked up their opening bat on his debut, then Cliffo, Simon (twice) and Theo all chipped in to leave them 5 down. At this point, sensing an easy victory against some drunk cowboys, decided to let everyone have a bowl.

This went badly, with their number 7 scorching 76 runs, many of them troubling the rugby posts at cow corner. Dean, Chirag and the captain picked up late wickets but the damage was well and truly done. 196 in 35 overs. Oh dear, dear, dear.

A quick word about the fielding - atrocious.

MCCC needed a solid start. Simon and Matt provided exactly that, until they both fell in quick succession - Simon well caught, Matt bowled by a ball that moved in and kept low.

Vivek then set about anchoring the team, as he ran through partners quickly. Tom (5), Adam (7), Neil (2) all coming and going quickly. Brian partnered Vivek for a while and the pair of them top scored. Brian eventually going lbw, just as the run chase was starting gather pace. Theo departed as quickly as he came, thanks to a sensational catch at slip (if memory serves correctly).

The fun and games really started at this point. Chirag, in his first appearance of the season, adopted a hit and run approach. He hit it and then ran. Running out Vivek and Dean Scott in the process. We only had 10, so one of the opposition's girlfriends guested as 11th "man". She ran out Chirag first ball and everyone departed happy.

MCCC lost by 75 runs, but a throughly good time was had by all. I will remind you again, they were wearing cowboy uniforms throughout. This isn't the season I was imagining.

MCCC scorecard

Hawkins 12
Oliver 15
Sarohia 29
Compton 5
Walker 7
Simpson 2
Clifford 18
Moore 0
Patel, C 2
Scott 4
Caroline (?) 0*

Extras 27

Total 121

MCCC bowling

Clifford 7-0-26-2
Moore 3-0-14-1
Hawkins 6-0-40-2
Walker 1-0-18-0
Oliver 3-0-27-0
Patel, C 7-0-32-1
Scott 6-0-19-2
Simpson 2-0-18-0

Fielding

Simpson - 1 catch
Sarohia - 1 catch, 1 stumping

Man of the match

Sarohia (yes, we were that bad)

MCCC vs Woldingham
12 May 2007

[Another match report of the same game!]

On a cold, chilly day someone won the toss and someone lost it. I cannot remember which way around it was, but just for a change we were having a bowl. Another long 40 overs in the field? Let's see.....

The skipper opened up and beat the bat several times with the new ball, but couldn't find the edge. Geoff spied this and decided uprooting middle stump was the best approach. 25-1 and we're in the game! We just need another breakthrough quickly. Or not.. Finally the breakthrough comes at 101, Raj inducing an edge behind and Vivek doing the business. One wicket brings another? Yup, Raj repeated the dose and picked up their opener who was looking excellent on 69.

The game started to get away from us a bit after this. Runs were leaked at frightening speed, with the ball disappearing to all parts. Amidst all of the carnage Vikram picked up 4-43, to record his best figures for the club. Raj's 3-44 were also club best figures.

Woldingham finished on an imposing 241, with Geoff the only bowler to maintain a halfway decent economy rate.

This was going to take something special to chase down. Were the boys up for it? You bet! Were they capable? Well, after last week's 111ao against Battersea, that's a different matter!

Vivek and Ewan opened up, although Ewan soon returned to his sea having been dismissed in the second over for a duck. Hemant joined Vivek at the crease, although Vivek was soon back in the "pavilion" having mistimed a pull for the third week running....

Deja vu for Hemant, MCCC and everyone as for the second week running he ran through partners quicker than Essex girl on a night out. Vikram, Barek and Rob all came and went quickly (0,0,2 respectively) .

It's 22-5 off 17 overs. Game over but maybe there would be some entertainment to be had?

Oh, you bet there would be. Theo came to the crease to compile "the innings we will never hear the end of". Dr Moore took particularly liking to a small boy in the Woldingham attack (insert your own joke here) and dispatched no less than 6 boundaries in a 30 minute cameo which prompted comparisons to all of the greats (Gatting, Key, Sales, Austin, Leverock). Sadly Theo eventually stuck one straight up in the air and was caught for a personal best - 36.

David Clifford came to the crease and added a breezy 8 before falling caught behind. Still at the other end was Hemant. Quite what he was making of this is anyone's guess. Well, it wasn't really. He was telling all and sundry what a shambles it is. Hemant was desperate to salvage something from the afternoon and bat out the overs. In came Geoff, who knows only one was to play (clue - he's never going to bat out the overs). Another breathless cameo broguht 15 to Geoff's score and another personal best. The skipper entered the fray with 5 balls remaining - miss, miss, two, four, single. Game over.

MCCC close on 123-8. Looks like we only had 10 players on the day. I doubt it made a difference to the result!!

Man of the match

Theo can have it

Batting card

Sarohia 5
Cotter 0
Patel, H 40*
Sangar 0
Choudhry 0
Sadler 2
Moore 32
Clifford, D 8
Balasolglou 15
Clifford, B 7*

Extras 14

Total 123

Bowling

Clifford, B 8-0-37-0
Balasoglou 8-1-21-1
Moore 1-0-14-0
Sharma 8-0-44-3
Clifford, D 5-0-35-0
Sangar 6-0-43-4
Patel, H 4-0-28-0

Fielding

Sarohia - 3 catches
Sharma/Sarohia - One run out (joint effort)

MCCC 2nd XI vs Battersea Ironsides

5th May 2007

On a reasonably sunny day, captain Cliffo won the toss and again inserted the opposition. This had more to do with the comparative paucity of batting available to him, rather than any particular brainstorm.

A strong Ironside team soon made the skipper come to regret this as their opening pair rattled the ball to all parts. The brisk opening partnership eventually ended thanks to a double breakthrough from Richard Wainer (bowling the number 2 bat) and then Girish Patel took a smart caught and bowled the dismiss their number 3. Sadly this was to cease Girish's input in the game as the tracer bullet of a return catch split his finger open. Bravely he carried on bowling (!) for a few over, before retiring off to hospital.

With the batsmen looking settled again, this gave the skipper a real headache. Down to 10 men and our best batsman en route to hospital, what to do? Answer - turn to Clifford jnr.

David Clifford then entered the fray on his first game of the season and bowled unchanged from one end. His figures at the end of this spell? An incredible 8-0-30-7. Wickets were picked up lbw, caught, bowled and caught&bowled. A quite sensational spell of bowling running through the Battersea middle order. Unfortunately, the bowling from the other end lacked a similar level of control or penetration. A frankly shambolic fielding and bowling display (lead by the skipper) allowed Battersea to finish on 200 (ish, the scoring isn't great here)

In the break something quite incredible happened. MCCC forget how to play cricket.

Resuming facing a formidable total, the side lost wicket, after wicket, after wicket. Simon went second ball, having cut the first for 4 he tried to repeat the dose and inside edged onto the stumps. Theo came and went for a breezy 6, Vivek top edged a pull for 0, Ewan was bowled for 1, David followed suit for 0, Geoff made an entertaining, but short lived 7, Raj a duck.

18-7. Enter the captain to join an understandably shell-shocked Hemant. He'd lost his brother to hospital and now was changing partners quicker than Calum Best. Oh, point to note - the skipper was still suffering a broken finger which meant he strictly shouldn't be playing cricket. A thrilling partership of 89 followed, with Brian playing the aggressor and Hemant playing second fiddle with a series of delicate nudges and nurdles.

A slog-sweep over midwicket brought Brian to 36, his highest score for the club. Trying to repeat the dose next ball, he was caught by a quite outstanding catch at backward square leg.

Richard joined Hemant briefly, but soon we were all out for 111.

A decent-ish effort, but in reality we were outclassed.

Man of the match

David Clifford

MCCC scorecard

Hakwins 4
Sarohia 0
Moore 6
Patel, H 32*
Cotter 1
Clifford, D 0
Balasoglou 7
Sharma 0
Clifford, B 36
Wainer 1
Patel, G DNB


MCCC bowling

Clifford, B 7-0-44-0
Balasoglou 8-0-49-0
Wainer 8-0-40-2
Patel, G 4-0-15-1
Sharma 5-1-23-0
Clifford, D 8-0-30-7

Catches

Clifford, D
Patel, G
Patel, H
Hawkins
Wainer
Sarohia (stumping)

MCCC vs Godstone CC Sunday 14 July 2007

Match Played at: Haydons Road
Match Played home or away: Home
Weather: Overcast
Toss won by: MCCC lost toss and bowled first
Pitch Condition: Uneven
Match Format: Overs Game (40 per side)
MCCC Total: Did not Bat

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

Notable Bowling performances:
Andy A got 5 and Ryan got 2 before Rain God decided to save Godstone from a whitewash.'

Match Result: Draw

Champagne moment:
'Andy A getting his 5 wkts and getting oppo's batsman on the first ball of the match.'

MCCC Man of the Match: Andy A

MCCC vs Merton CC Sunday 22nd July 2007

Match Played at: Raynes Park
Match Played home or away: Home
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: 234

MCCC Batting Order:
1.Majid R
2.Steve C
3.Satish V
4.Imran S
5.Steve O
6.Khalim A
7.Craig H
8.Tush W
9.Andy A
10.Mitul P
11.Jim P

Notable batting performances:
Imran scored 65, Steve O got 25, Khalim got 26 and Craig got 50*'

Oppostion Total: 132/9

Notable Bowling performances:
Jim got 3 wkts, Steve O got 2 while Andy, Craig, Khalim and Mitul got one each.'

Match Result: MCCC won by 102 runs.

MCCC Man of the Match: Imran S

MCCC vs Downsiders Sunday 19 August 2007

Match Played at: Raynes Park

Match Played home or away: Home

Weather: Hot, sunny and blue sky

Toss won by: MCCC lost toss and bowled first

Pitch Condition: Damp but firm

Match Format: Overs Game (40 per side)

MCCC Total:

MCCC Batting Order:
1.Khalim A
2.Steve C
3.Satish V
4.Gerry C
5. Ryan L
6.Steve O
7.Craig H
8.Tush W
9.Andy A
10.Mike T
11.Imran

Notable batting performances:
Who scored the runs?

Khalim Scored 31, Steve got 21, Satish scored 50*, Gerry got 2 and Steve O scored 10*

Oppostion Total: 120 all out

Notable Bowling performances:
MCCC bowled really well under high tempratures with Andy, Tush, Ryan controlling the run rate. Gerry came on with his spin and got 3 wickets to destroy the oppo.

Match Result: MCCC won by 6 wkts.

MCCC Man of the Match: Gerry C and Satish V.

MCCC vs Energy Exiles Sunday 2nd September 2007

Match Played at: Chiswick
Match Played home or away:
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: 228/7

MCCC Batting Order:
1.Khaleem A
2.Steve H
3.Satish V
4.Jadid K
5.Steve O'Neil
6.Imran S
7.Andy A
8.Ryan L
9.Raj S
10.Tush W
11.Brian C

Notable batting performances:
Who scored the runs?
Imran got 67 Not Out, Khalim 51
and Ryan Lanlow quick firing 39 including 2 consecutive sixes.

Jadid helped in providing stablity in middle order with 41.

Oppostion Total: 137

Notable Bowling performances:
Who got the wickets
Andy A, Tush W, Khaleem A all shared 1 wicket each while Imran S and Steve O' got 2 each.'

Match Result:
MCCC won with oppo only managed to scored 137 in 40 overs

Champagne moment:

MCCC Man of the Match:
Imran S for scoring quick 67* and taking two wickets.

Additional Comments about match:
'Any muppet moments? Khaleem shouting mine like Mini princess. It was louder and more girly than Craig (Princess) Harper. Lucky you Khaleem AJ wasn't there.

What was the tea like?
Tea was alright. Tush didn't get enough though and hence everyone else had enough.'

MCCC vs. Leatherhead (away) Sunday 9 September

Match Played home or away: Away
Weather: Hot, sunny and blue sky
Toss won by: MCCC lost toss and put into bat
Pitch Condition: Damp but firm
Match Format: Overs Game (40 per side)
MCCC Total: 101

MCCC Batting Order:
1.Khalim A
2.Steve H
3.Imran S
4.Jadid K
5.Tush W
6.Ryan L
7.Steve O'Neil
8.Craig H
9.Andy A
10Mitul P.
11.Graham P

Notable batting performances:
Ryan Lang scoring 42 not out.

Oppostion Total:

Notable Bowling performances:
Andy A, Craig and Ryan all got 2 wickets each while Tush W got 1

Match Result:
Lost as oppo chased the score with 7 wickets down in 25 overs.

Champagne moment:

MCCC Man of the Match:

Wey Valley League Knock Out Cup Final versus Kennington.

Oppo- 116-9 from 40
Morden 119-3
Morden won by 7 wickets.
[Match Photos]

The crew descended upon Guildford for the last game of the season. Would the boys be able to get one more win to conquer division one and win the cup? Only Time would tell. The author arrived hung over and not in the best of spirits (having consumed to many spirits the night before and due to the fact that Cuan “I ditch my mates” Brown had stitched up his mates by deliberately throwing away the life saving zinger burger leaving the author to survive on m&m’s and jack Daniels. The game started at 1pm and we arrived at 1pm on the spot. As we made our dash to the changing rooms, the abuse began as usual. Steve Cummings was beating his chest and we became worried again that we might have another incident on our hands. Anyway, due to the late arrival we had no idea whether we won the toss or not, but it did not matter as we were bowling. The skip told us all to play hard and not to field badly in patches like we had done the week before. The pitch resembled a piece of concrete with grass on it. Craig “I like my woman just like my wine- aged for 50 years yet still lively” Harper was excited as we had the good old Morant ball which moves around like a girl running away from Tush “ I want to be like Craig “ Whaddwa. The skip very kindly allowed AJ to field in first slip in order to nurse his hang over before bowling. However this kind gesture was to have painful consequences. Andy “Kiwi Anger” Allan taking the new ball and opening with good pace and bounce. Unfortunately the morrant was moving miles and the second ball saw one coming straight at AJ in first slip. AJ steadied himself and was about to try catch the exocet before Steve V managed to deflect the ball down. Unfortunately the deflection took the ball down and away from AJS hand. The ball bounced and creamed AJ straight in the goolies. AJ nearly vomiting much to the amusement of the boys. Angry repeated this trick two more times in the over with AJ managing to survive without further damage. The skip then threw the ball to AJ who opened up from the other end. The ball was again moving like mad. The oppos openers were showing good technique but also flaws in certain areas. Angry and Aj applied some restrictive and probing bowling for the first few overs. AJ got the breakthrough by bowling the opener. Aj then followed this up by being denied an absolutely plumb lbw. However the old adage of swings and roundabouts proved true, as the next over saw a delivery from AJ pitch outside leg and strike the left handed batsmen (the same bat who had survived earlier) on the pad. AJ did not appeal and only Steve V behind the stumps managed a meak howzat, AJ who was laughing at Steve’s appeal turned around to see the Umpire gun down the batsmen. The oppo were now 2 down. Angry continued a classy spell from the other and soon had a wicket with a great delivery which the batsman fended straight to Roy at short leg. Tent peg taking a good catch. AJ picked up a third stick with Jason H taking the catch and finished his spell. Roy came on to replace Andy A and soon produced some results, those results being some Muppet fielding. Hefner Hughes who was operating with a dodgy back couldn’t hold on to 2 sharp chances. Jason “ I throw the ball harder than anyone in history” Howarth then chipped in with two bits of fielding which almost resulted in death for the two poor fielders who had to try stop the over throws. The first involved a sharp run out chance. Jay was at point and threw in tracer bullet. He just missed the stumps and it was up to the poor skip to sacrifice his body to prevent the overthrow. The ball smacking into Gerry’s thigh. A few inched higher and we would have been man down. The second involved another run out chance. The batsman at the non strikers end charged down and was caught in no mans land. Jay fielded the ball then attempted a Jonty Rhodes which involved trying to outpace the batsmen to the crease. Unfortunately Jason was about 20 meters out and the batsman was about 10 feet from the crease. Jay realised he didn’t have the world record breaking pace to beat the batsman to the wicket so decided to do the next best thing, which was to throw the ball as hard as he could. Angry Allan was running in to the stumps for the run out but quite rightly decided to take evasive action as the canon shot was fired in. The ball accelerating as it flashed past the stumps and rocketed off to the next county. This was followed by some gaining ground throws between the two anger twins. The aggresive Steve and Angry Andy taking turns throwing the ball at each other from fine leg to midd on. Roy sat watching as his figures went out the window with each over throw. So the batsman gained about 14 runs from 3 shots. All singles converted into over throws. Craig came on to replace AJ and was soon into an exceptional spell. The batsman not able to score off of him. Roy picked up a stick, a catch taken by Hefner Hughes at gully. Craig was joined by Gerry and the two produced an exceptional spell taking 2 wickets for 16 runs from 16 over’s between them. Craig and Gerry taking a stick a piece. Andy came back on and picked up another wicket. Kaleem joined the party and watched as AJ dropped a chance which was fired in at him. AJ almost losing his face in the process. Angry Allan was heard shouting abuse at AJ from the boundary after the miss. Angry suggesting that AJ get a funnel fine. Much to the Joy of AJ the very next ball resulted in Angry allowing a sitter past him and over the boundary. Kaleem did pick up the 9th wicket shortly after. The oppo survived the last few over’s and crept to 116-9 from their 40. Great effort by the lads. Tea was served and Brian and Kaleem strode in to do battle.

The lads started well against some serious pace from the West Indian openers. Kaleem hitting some glorious boundaries. The ball and pitch were still doing a lot. Brian was out first to the same style outside leg lbw decision. Jason “I hit the ball as hard as I throw it “H strode out and settled in. An unfortunate run out saw Kaleem returning back to the pavilion. Hefner Hughes strolled out and smacked the opener for 4 first ball. The two began to accelerate the run rate with some fantastic shots off of the quick bowlers. Hef was soon back in the pavilion after being bowled by a low one. Steve “Aggressive Cummings strode out. The two began to play a great knock. Jason hitting some sublime shots off of his legs. We were soon in target of the win as Steve accelerated the innings by smashing the young spinners. Jay joined in with a massive six. The boys cruised home in the 16th over with Jason bringing up his fifty with the winning shot. Great batting guys.

So morden won the league cup by knocking out the number 1,3 and 4 teams from the division one. Fantastic effort and congrats to he club. The boys celebrated by drinking from the Cumings bros home made funnel.

MOM-Jason for a great knock
Muppet moments- angry allowing the ball to go through his legs twice.
AJ for apparently dropping a sitter which was blasted at point blank range into his face.
Bowling- Andy A-2 AJ-3 Roy-1 Craig-1 Gerry-1 Kaleem-1
Batting – Jay- 50 Steve 30 odd- Nick- 20 Kaleem 15 odd.
Wounded in action-
AJ –Goolags courtesy of andy a and steve v
Gerry- thigh courtesy of Jason
Craig- rather hard to reach spot courtesy of Andy
Nick H- leg courtesy of not using his bat but rather his pad to block a fast bowler.