MCC v Argentina Colts - match report
by Paul Bedford (Tour Manager)
This opening match of the tour provided an opportunity for the players to gain some form and make plans for a campaign that would test resolve as well as technique.
The stay at the Hurlingham Club has been really enjoyable and allowed for good preparation. Valuable time getting to know the characters within the team has, as always, been interesting.
Woken by birdsong and only occasionally broken by the sound of a strimmer or a train pulling in to the nearby station. It was a pleasant and enjoyable change to be in such beautiful surroundings without radios and televisions.
Precious wickets
A night tropical thunderstorm within hours of arrival ensured the pitch was slow. Playing under ICC rules, which included three power plays, the MCC batsman played with care deciding that intact wickets would be a precious commodity.
A promising start was cut short before the captain, Peter Trego (Somerset), and Martin Laidler (Scarborough) added nearly 50 - mainly through running twos and threes where on another day fours would have been the result of a good short.
A mini collapse resulted in MCC being in a precarious position at 124–6 but Rob Walker (Bradford & Bingley) and Guy Bulpitt (Shifnal) batted with experience and added 60.
MCC finally ended on a respectable 207–7. Walker top-scoring with a hard hitting 47 and Bulpitt undefeated on 27.
Bounce & pace
Opening bowler: Peter Trego Leading from the front Peter Trego opened the bowling with George Brooksbank (Cheltenham) and generated more bounce and pace than the Colts achieved.
An ambitious and productive partnership developed between Fulton and Mustapha testing the resolve of both bowlers.
In the 10th over Brooksbank broke through having Fulton caught by Mark George (St Just) via a tip-up at slip from Bulpitt.
Barton, Argentina national coach, and Mustapha offered hope to the home side with quick scoring but Brooksbank succeeded in trapping his third top order wicket and Mottram (Oxford UCCE) had Barton caught at cover.
High-stepping Gibson (Reigate Priory) bowled straight and took two wickets in his first two overs. Room-mate Bulpitt added more wickets for the room with 2–7 in three overs.
The innings was wrapped up by King (Loughborough UCCE) taking a simple catch leaning forward at Silly Mid Off with MCC winning by exactly 100 runs.
The warm-up match was over and was followed by a quick dip in the pool and some excellent hospitality from the hosts.