Not the MCC vs Christ's College

15 June 2008

by Tim Muttukumaru

Unmoved by a series of dire BBC weather forecasts during the week, NTMCC arrived yesterday at the 'new' sports grounds in fine spirits. Captain Piyush Mahapatra had decided that it looked a good pitch to bowl on first and it came as no surprise when he lost the toss and NTMCC were put straight into bat.

Opening bowlers Blyth and Harrison found some early movement on a greenish pitch but the batsmen offered stout early resistance, Boot looking in particularly fine touch after a long lay-off. Unfortunately Williams was inspired by one of his early boundaries to play across the line and was clean bowled. The skipper strode confidently to the crease (perhaps buoyed by the morning's drinking at the Margs event) and quickly got off the mark. However, he soon clipped one to square leg, bringing in Muttukumaru. The two Demons proceeded to have a surprisingly fruitful partnership, Boot making the lion's share of the runs with some quite exquisite driving through the offside. Having being congratulated by the wicketkeeper on a fine boundary, Boot was moved to mention his previous international experience to the surrounding fielders. Nemesis arrived next ball as Boot was clean bowled for 26.

Three wickets down and the Beckmanator entered the fray. Cue some booming drives and sophisticated chat in between overs. Muttukumaru slowly began to find his range against the first change bowlers, belting a couple of sixes to the short(ish) leg side boundary. There were a couple of offside shots too, but nothing of particular note. Unfortunately, a short pitched delivery on off stump was his undoing as he crashed it straight back into the new bowler's grateful arms. Thoroughgood rushed to the wicket and immediately set about spreading the field far and wide. An incredibly brisk 34 was another useful contribution to the total before the birthday boy was eventually dismissed caught in the offside.

This triggered a flurry of wickets - Beckman finally succumbing for 21, Farrington bowled for 4 and Beacham lbw for a duck (note: J. Williams to be banned from future umpiring duties). With the overs ticking away, momentum had been lost slightly and it was left to South and Singanayagam to rescue the situation. Both produced some free swinging of the bat and with the field set deep, both ran superbly between the wickets - an object lesson to the gathering crowd. The Bramenator was run out for 15, victim of a late attempt to run a single to the keeper. Enter current Blues player (with questionable Old Boys credentials) Chris Blake... who skied an easy catch to deep cover... which was dropped. Old Boys finished 190 for 9 off their 30 overs.

Williams 6

Boot 26

Mahapatra 4

Muttukumaru 40

Beckman 21

Thoroughgood 34

Farrington 4

Beacham 0

South 17 not out

Singanayagam 15

Blake 2 not out

TOTAL 190 for 9

The CCCCCC started solidly but Beacham made an early breakthrough to give the Old Boys a lift. This brought the opposition's star player to the crease and he quickly took the attack to the Old Boys. His partner (known only as "The Guns"... with a deceptively similar playing style to his namesake) was sluggish in comparison but kept the scoreboard ticking. With the Strike Parrot's radar malfunctioning, the Old Boys turned to Jonathan "Banana" Beckman. Unfortunately, the sun was not shining on him and he was unable to produce his previous magic. Farrington, however, was faring rather better, bowling "The Guns" with a quite savage delivery that swung in and cut away to shatter off stump. Opposition wicketkeeper Stanton entered the fray and Farrington again produced a beauty to send him packing.

However, with Barber scoring quickly at the other end, the Old Boys had little control over the match and captain Mahapatra turned to James Williams for assistance. It was apparent from his first few balls that he had Barber's measure and with his fifth ball he produced a classically flighted delivery which evaded the batsman's swipe but not the stumps. Jubilant celebrations followed and the opposition no.3 was gone for 51. Williams then wheeled away for a further 6 overs, keeping control over the game for the Old Boys. At the other end, Cyrus "The Virus" caused mass panic in the opposition ranks with some truly ferocious quick bowling. His first delivery was a vicious throat ball which caught the edge and nearly blew keeper Ali South's head off. Fortunately South was alert enough to snaffle the catch. The following batsmen appeared to fear hospitalisation from the Raging Pandemic steaming in from the Tennis Court End. Another wicket followed and the home crowd, sensing defeat, began to dissipate.

However, College remained in touch with the runs requirement and required 35 from the last 3 overs. Thoroughgood took some hammer in the first of these and when the first ball of the penultimate over was dismissed to the extra cover boundary, 21 were required from 11 balls. However, Beacham recovered to decimate the timbers with his very next delivery. This brought Blyth to the crease and he was unable to gather more than 3 runs from the rest of the over. Thoroughgood then closed out the game with a disciplined line and length, dismissing Blyth and keeping Dennis the Menace quiet. Mostofi Minor blocked out the last few deliveries to secure what he doubtless hoped would be an honourable draw, but everyone else knew was a crushing victory for the Old Boys.

Congratulations and thanks to all who played. I'll go and do some work now.

Beacham 6-2-18-2

Singanayagam 3-0-26-0

Farrington 6-0-31-2

Beckman 2-0-21-0

Williams 7-0-38-1

The Virus 4-0-20-2

Thoroughgood 2-0-16-1

Some photos from the game can be seen here.