CYPRUS v MCC
There
was an unusually large number of spectators at Dhekelia cricket ground on Sun
13th. They had come to watch a game between the Cyprus national team
and the MCC, but more specifically they had come to see Mike Gatting,
Englands
test captain in the 1980s, with 79 test matches and 92 one day internationals,
a batting average of 35 over an international career spanning 17 years, Now 50
he is in charge of first class cricket in the UK.
Cyprus
won the toss and took the decision to field, usually a safe option when unsure
of the oppositions strength. With Gatting and Corlett opening,
Mike Gatting in particular setting about Cyprus opening bowlers with
enthusiasm and a good deal of style, it became clear that this was going to be
a test for the Cyprus team.
It took a spectacular catch by
captain Mike Kyriacou, off Sampaths bowling, to finally dismiss Mike Gatting on
44.The opening partnership had taken 71 off the first 16 overs.
With
his partner gone Corlett took over responsibility for the innings, with new
partners S.Morris and R.J Baxter adding another 103 runs before being bowled by
Mike Kyriacou in the 37th over just 7 runs short of his century. The
score now on 182 MCC went after runs at the cost of wickets, finishing on
197 for 5 after their 40 overs.
Cyprus
has a habit of loosing wickets cheaply at the top of the order, but this time
Khan and Sawar were solid and confidant against MCCs medium pace opening attack.
Both were prepared to wait for scoring opportunities at the same time never
falling behind the required run rate of around 5 an over. Khan fell first
in the 21st over, caught on the fine leg boundary by Gatting off
Holdsworth. He had scored 51 and Cyprus was on 84. Sanjeewa came and went
leaving Sarwar to form a new partnership with no 4 Kashif.
With
Cyprus on 124 Sarwar (38) was caught and bowled by Gatting the partnership
worth 37 runs.
It
was at this point that MCC brought on Salmon to bowl. With pace and bounce he
managed to stifle the Cyprus run chase. Salmon was responsible for Kashifs
wicket in the 33rd over, Kashif top scoring on 63, then dismissing
Niroshan in the same over.
With
ten overs to go, Cyprus still confident of victory, 58 runs needed and only
four wickets down. But creeping doubts began to invade as wickets fell and the
run rate edged up. Taking too many chances on risky singles Cyprus paid with
run outs. So that with just six balls to go needing only six runs, with three
wickets in hand the Cyprus batting went into an apoplectic panic. Two run outs
on consequetive balls left 5 needed from the last three balls. Nalaga went for
a dramatic finish only to see his intended boundary fall into the hands of mid
on. Cyprus all out for 193 and victory to the MCC by 4 runs.
In
the ceremonies after the match Kashif was given the award for best league
batsman in 2007 by Mike Gatting.
Scoreboard
MCC batting.
M.Gatting 44, CC.Corlett 93, S.Morris 16, R.J.Baxter 17, C.J.Salmons 8 no,
Jarrett 3, Holdsworth 2 no.
Cyprus bowling.
Mike K 27-2, Chris M 41-0, Sampath A 45-2, Niroshan 26-0, Khan 32-0, Sanjeewa
25-0.
Cyprus batting.
Sarwar 38, Khan 51, Sanjeewa 0, Kashif 63, Sampath A 11, Niroshan 0, Anil 10,
Mike K 2, Nalaga 2, Bhatti 0, Muhammad 0 no.
MCC bowling .
J.M.Coles 27-0, J.A Hughes 27-2, R.J.Barlow 32-1, R.Holdsworth 47-1, M.Gatting
24-2, Salmons 30-2.
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ISLAND xi v MCC
In
their second match of the MCC tour of Cyprus they played a Best of Cyprus X1 at
Happy Valley.
MCC
won the toss and elected to bat on a beautifully warm October day.
An
opening stand of 24 was broken when opener Michael Jarrett was caught by
Dileepa of Arif. Number two batsman Chris Jarrett went
on to score 47 before being caught behind the wicket again off the bowling or
Arif.
European
Development manager Richard Holdsworth then came to the crease and immediately
started to hit the ball to all parts of the ground. His quick fire 56 included
five sixes as he helped the MCC reach a total of 169 for 8.
For
the Cyprus team Nalaga bowled extremely well to record a fine 5 for 18 off his
8 over allowance.
In reply the hosts were soon in trouble losing their first 5 wickets for only 29 as opening bowler Jonathon Hughes created havoc,
but then Kapila 27 and
Sharmara 44 piled on the runs but then Hughes returned to finish off the Cyprus
side and finished with 6 for 24.
Former
England captain Mike Gatting came in late in the innings and was 3no at the
close of the innings. He bowled 6 overs and returned 1 for 33 as the Cyprus
side were dismissed for 130,
The
Sri Lankan Welfare Association presented a trophy for the man of the match and
this was won by Jonathon Hughes.
Momentos
were presented by tour manager Tim Kirk and the Cyprus captain Dileepa.
The
MCC¹s final game is against a
Combined Services team at Happy Valley on Wednesday 17th October.
The start is scheduled for 11am.
Match
Summary
MCC 169-8 off 40 overs
Island
xi 130 all out off 36 overs.
On
Monday 15th October Mike Gatting led the MCC as they held a coaching
session for young players at Happy Valley. Aproximately 50 aspiring cricketers
attended and were given instruction on the skills of cricket. A few lucky ones
received batting coaching from Mike Gatting.
JOINT SERVICES v MCC
In the final game of their tour MCC took on a Joint Services team at Happy Valley. This was a strong services team which unfortunately failed to fire on the day. Batting first they were soon in trouble,their stalwart opener John Conway run out for not very much. This seemed to set the pattern for the rest of the batting who after only 20 overs found themselves all out for only 77.
Rob Barlow did the damage for the MCC
taking 5 wickets for 19. To rub salt into the wound he also scored 49 not out
in MCCs leisurely victory, overtaking Joint services score after 18 overs
loosing only two wickets.
