Aficionados of such things are to be found in unanimous agreement that the MCC vs NLC is one of the great chess/cricketing fixtures of the year. This year’s match was not to disappoint.
It was a six over match. The MCC won the toss. Conditions were well lit and temperate, wine was in plentiful supply and the pitch enjoyed good underlay and deep pile. Perfect bowling conditions, so the MCC put the NLC in to bat.
The first over
The MCC opened with pace on Board 2. Peter Rust meant business and the fast bowler was reaching 95mph within a few balls. Mister Whiteley protected his wicket as best he could, but after white bowled the vicious in-swinger 17.Qxc5 Mister Whiteley’s off stump flew. He walked to the pavilion without looking back. A rocky start for the NLC.
The second over
With the loss of the early wicket the NLC needed to consolidate and get settled. No better man to step forward than Doctor ‘Boycott’ Kirby. He can always be relied upon for a forward defensive and the draw. He didn’t disappoint. With disregard for his run rate he blocked ball after ball on Board 1 until he’d secured the half point. NLC nerves were recovering.
The third over
Mister Widdicombe’s innings came next. Geoff Dawson and Mister Widdicombe have had a number of tussles over the years and neither ball nor bat has ever achieved supremacy. It was always going to be tight on board 4. White’s bowling kept Mister Widdicombe under pressure and on the back foot for most of the game, but white let black get his king into the centre which levelled things up. But it was even to the end and if white had bowled 54.Ke7 instead of 54. h4 Mister Widdicombe would have had to concede the draw in the final ball. As it was, the Lib was able to nudge the final delivery through the slips for two, and won the game.
That much needed point brought the NLC innings to a close.
The fourth over
With that, it was the MCC to bat. Time for the NLC to take control of the game. The MCC gulped as they saw Captain Kirby throw the ball to The Black Death. Few have been able to survive his bowling onslaught this season, and poor Nick Clarke was no different. A six ball spell from bearded one on board 5 saw a magnificent spinner 31.Ra8# to bring the score the Libs way as they led the MCC 2.5 runs to 1.5 runs.
The fifth over
Both sides were now casting anxious glances to the scoreboard, wondering quite how the match would turn out. On board 6 Our Good Friend Mister Taylor dug deep and bowled good line and length against Nick Esses to go a piece up, but struggled to find the wicket in the face of some determined batting. After the sixth ball of the over a draw was agreed.
The final over
The match was delicately placed, with the Libs ahead 3 runs to 2, with the final over to go. All-rounder Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) was bowling his left arm pacers against the experienced and wily middle order batsman Will Ransom on board 3. Ball after ball was sent down the track, but the Lib couldn’t make headway in getting the MCC out. Ball after ball, time was ticking down. It was going to come down to the last delivery. Time scramble. Pieces flying. Clock ticking. Close fielders surrounded the board. The NLC team crowded the balcony. The final ball bowled. The Liberal flag fell.
The MCC tail had batted it out to close of play, and secured the draw. One second remained on the MCC clock.
Final score: 3 runs each. A draw was declared.
Dinner
Dinner was excellent, as it always is at the MCC. It involved pate to start. But after that your correspondent’s memory becomes hazy, due in large part to the very generous approach the MCC take to their wine.
Excellent stuff!
Splendid! Sorry to have missed it.
Excellent result! Well done chaps. A shame I couldn’t make it.
See you on Monday for the LSE.
I must have been slightly more sober because I distinctly remember fish with a herb crust and a white bean stew, and then Bakewell tart for pud. Lovely.
It was a very good evening all round.