MCCU Combined Side vs. Sussex

30 June 2010

Day One.
The Combined MCC Universities team took to the field for the first day of its 2010 second XI championship campaign. The game against Sussex was played at a majestic looking Horsham Cricket Club.

On a sunny and warm morning MCCU captain Jak Martin (Oxford) lost the toss and was asked to field by Sussex. And so it proved that this was the correct decision for the county as the wicket at Cricket Field Road lived up to its reputation as a batsman’s paradise.

Sussex started well and scored briskly by making 100 for 1 in 23 overs. The 200 came up in 45 overs for the loss of two wickets. The afternoon session proved equally hard for the students as the wicket offered very little assistance to the bowlers and once the ball had gone past the infield it was virtually guaranteed to be four.

Rick Moore (Leeds) was the pick of the bowlers his three wickets for 54 runs was a really good performance. He was well supported by Pete Turnbull (Cambridge) and Adam Wilson who in particular deserved more than one wicket from his considerable efforts.

Sussex eventually declared on 367 for five. The first innings of the game had proved a challenge for the MCCU players, but things were only going to get tougher as the West Indian test player Cory Collymore opened the bowling for Sussex. The students managed to keep Collymore out but could not help but lose three wickets at the other end. Only Rory Burns from Cardiff offered any real resistance as he closed the day at 30 not out.

Score:
Sussex 369 for 5 dec vs. MCCU 67 for 3.

Day Two.
The MCCU students knew they had to have a good first hour against Sussex if they were going to stay in the game. And so they did with Burns and Young (Oxford) both moving past fifty before drinks. The sky was slightly more cloudy during the first hour and the ball seemed to do a touch more off the pitch. Ex-England Spinner Monty Panesar was introduced into the Sussex attack, and he had Young trapped LBW for 79 whilst sweeping. This brought to an end a partnership of 114 between Burns and Young. Rick Moore came to the crease and he went onto score 39 before he holed out to mid-off. Burns continued to bat with the assistance of the middle order. He was eventually caught by the keeper off the bowling of Collymore for 131.
Rory Burns made 131 against Sussex.

The MCCU innings finished on 319, this gave Sussex a lead of 50. In their second innings the county were slowed by some accurate bowling by the students. Pete Turnbull took two wickets for 35 by bowling full and straight. The notable Scalp for Turnbull was that of the Sussex captain Michael Thornley who had scored a hundred the previous day. He was caught at point by Burns, who managed to get his hands the right way round taking this catch.
The day finished with Sussex at 155 for three wickets, a lead of 205. The coaches and captains were seen deep in conversation, so the chance of a chase looks possible for the students on day three.

Score:
Sussex 369-5 dec & 155-3 (Turnbull 2-35) vs. MCCU 319 all out (Burns 131, Young 79)

Day Three.
The students started day three well and took wickets throughout the morning session. Ed Young managed to dismiss three Sussex batsmen with his left-arm spinners. The county declared 15 minutes before lunch, nine wickets down with 364 runs on the board. This left the MCCU requiring 314 to win the game. The top order for the MCCU resisted some good bowling, and went into the last twenty overs of the game three wickets down requiring 100 runs.

The MCCU side eventually knocked off the required runs seven wickets down with five overs and three balls remaining. Daniel Bendon (Cardiff) scored 105, he was well supported by Young, who scored his second 50 of the match.

This was the first competitive victory in the Second XI Championship for the MCC Universities. Credit must go to Sussex for setting up a really good run chase.

Score:
Sussex 369-5 dec & 263-9 dec (Welsh 3-20. Young 3-57) vs. MCCU 319 all out & 314-7 (Bendon 105. Young 84)

MCCU win by 3 wickets

MCC Staff