MCC V Uganda U19s Match Report
by Steve Salisbury (Tour Manager)
MCC were faced with fierce resistance and extremely competitive cricket on day one of the two day game against Uganda U19 XI.
MCC were inserted on a pitch of variable bounce in extremely humid conditions. The Ugandan u19 bowlers performed in a manner well beyond their years and soon had MCC reeling at 36 for 5. The opening pairing of Sebanja (3-16) & Tabby (4-21) exploited the conditions beautifully .
Runs were hard to come by for the experienced and talented MCC batting line up. The Nottinghamshire opening partnership of Shafayat and Wagh were soon parted.
Wickets fell regularly until Wagh, Newell and later Adams offered some measure of resistance in extremely humid and oppressive conditions.
The Ugandan U19s fielding supported the bowlers fully and has already become a feature of this tour.
Hydration became a real issue for the batsmen and lunch was taken at 95 for 6 with MCC in a seemingly perilious position.
The Uganda bowlers lunched in better mood and soon completed their destruction of the MCC first innings for 98. Much to the dismay of all present.
Inspirational spell
Wickets soon fell in the Ugandan first innings until Mukasa(22) & Yakub (25) came together to steer Uganda U19 to 60 for 3 at tea.
Facing a potentially testing final session, we witnessed a truly outstanding contribution in tiring conditions.
Glamorgan’s Dave Harrison (7-22) produced an inspirational spell of fast bowling to reduce Uganda U19 to 97 all out. He was well supported by Wightman (2-24) and some stunning fielding.
The MCC impetus continued into the final moments of the day. With 16 overs remaining and despite the early loss of Bilal Shafayat to an unfortunate top edge, MCC ended the day on 99 for 1 with Nottinghamshire’s Mark Wagh undefeated on 50 playing some imperious strokes on a pitch still offering considerable assistance to the bowlers
James Beeny The second morning dawned with little cloud, some bright sunshine and the promise of a very warm day. The pitch appeared more batsman friendly as Mark Wagh (83) and James Beeny (100*) built on an overnight lead of 100.
Wagh played some imperiously elegant strokes in a masterclass for the Ugandan U19s in how to play straight and to accelerate once set.
James Beeny’s confidence visibly increased as the partnership progressed beyond 100.
Wagh was finally undone by a cunningly flighted delivery from Nakana. Beeny then took the reins and accelerated beautifully punishing the bad ball severely.
MCC captain, Jamie Dalrymple (30) joined Beeny and provided a wonderfully entertaining cameo which included two very big straight sixes.
Middlesex’s Ben Scott (22*) joined Beeny for the last leg of his hundred allowing MCC to declare just before lunch on 240 for 3.
Uganda U19s were set a challenging 242 to win in a minimum of 62 overs for victory.
Spinners take honours
The boys set off in very determined fashion and made steady progress in the face of some impressive seam bowling from Dave Harrison, John Wightman and Adam Sydall who all asked questions of the batsmen.
It was, however, the spinners who took the honours and the wickets -MCC captain Jamie Dalrymple (5-33) & Chris Peploe (2-8 ). Despite solid resistance from the lower order the draw soon became the only real option for the U19s.
They fell short by nine overs but can be well pleased with their endeavours in this rare foray into a longer version of the game.
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