MCCU vs. Hampshire 2nd XI – Match Report.

14 July 2010

Day One.
A grey and wet day greeted the MCCU students on the academy ground at the Rose bowl as they took on Hampshire second eleven in a three-day county championship fixture.

MCCU captain Jak Martin (Oxford) won the toss and had no hesitation in inviting the county to bat. The wicket was green and conditions humid, which should have made ideal conditions to bowl in. Unfortunately shortly after the toss the heavens opened and an early lunch was taken.

Play eventually got under way at 1.45pm. The openers for the county made steady progress against the new ball bowlers, Groves (Loughborough) and Woolley (Cambridge).

The dangerous Michael Lumb was dropped at extra cover off the bowling of Moore (Leeds) just before a further rain interruption led to an early tea being taken. The score at this stage was 151 for 3.

The various rain delays throughout the day meant that 41 overs still needed to be bowled after tea. Moore took his third wicket of the innings when he had Lumb caught in the gulley for 62. This started a good ten over spell for the students in which 40 runs were taken for three wickets.

Leg-spinner Tom Craddock (Leeds) was introduced and bowled a very tight spell, showing good control, and the ability to bowl variations. Wickets fell steadily for the students with left-arm spinner Alex Welsh (Loughborough) complimenting Craddock well. Hampshire eventually finished the day at 228 for nine wickets.

Score:
Hampshire 2nd XI 228-9 (Moore 3-54) vs. MCCU
Hampshire 2nd XI vs. MCCU, Day 1, 13th July 2010 (111 KB)

Day Two.
The second day began under overcast skies, with the threat of rain never far away. Hampshire resumed on 228-8 and were lucky not to lose a wicket in the first over, as an edge off the Leeds/Bradford leg spinner, Tom Craddock, just evaded the grasp of Rick Moore at slip. Skipper Jak Martin bravely opted for attacking fields in the hope of grabbing two quick wickets but the batsmen took advantage of the gaps in the fast outfield to move the score quickly onto 280-8. Rob Woolley eventually made the breakthrough, as an attempted hook shot was skied over the slips and Rory Burns sprinted round from third man to take a diving low catch. Pete Turnbull promptly clean bowled Hampshire’s last man, leaving the home side on 288 all out and with 3 bonus points to the visitor’s 4.

In reply, Burns and Martin saw off the new ball, including a lively spell from first-team regular David Griffiths, to take the MCCU side to 44-0 from 14 overs before rain brought an early lunch at 12.50. Play resumed at 2pm and saw runs start to come more freely as Burns and Martin put on 113 for the first wicket. On the back of two centuries in the first two games, Burns got to 54 before tamely chipping the young leg-spinner, Jamie Miller, to mid-wicket. It was a disappointing end to an innings in which he never looked troubled. Several counties have now expressed an interest in the Cardiff keeper/batsman (coach-come-agent Clive Radley has become a track-suited Jerry McGuire in trying to get deals for him) and this may prove to be his last game for the MCCU side. It will be a loss for the side but such progression to counties is the exact raison-d’etre of the MCCU team.

Oxford's Jak Martin made 50 in the second innings. Martin passed 50 at the other end, including several lofted shots off Miller. Griffiths passed the edge several times in his second spell and deserved the wicket when it came as Martin drove uppishly to point. He fell for 68 and will be disappointed not to have pressed on to a second successive century, as it is three-figure scores that the county scouts look for.

Cardiff’s Dan Bendon fell cheaply, cutting Miller to point, leaving the score at 163-2. This brought Duncan Bradshaw to the crease who on the back of his 91 against Essex last week scored a composed 54. Bradsahw was accompanied to 50 by the Durham left-hander Luc Durandt. MCCU declared on a very respectable 280 for three wickets.

The day closed with Hampshire at 76 for one. The solitary wicket to fall was an LBW for Tom Craddock.

Score:
Hampshire 2nd XI 288 all out (Moore 3-97) & 76-1 vs. MCCU 280-3 dec (Durandt 69*, Martin 68)
Hampshire 2nd XI vs. MCCU, Day 2, 14th July 2010 (143 KB)

Day Three
Heavy overnight rain led to the game being abandoned at 10.30am on day three

Score:
Hampshire 2nd XI 288 all out (Moore 3-97) & 76-1 vs. MCCU 280-3 dec (Durandt 69*, Martin 68)

Match Abandoned as a draw

MCC Staff.