MCC Universities Final: preview

Date released: 30 June 2008

The top two MCC Universities sides face off at Lord's today, Monday 30 June. Loughborough take on Leeds/Bradford with the latter hoping to avenge defeat in the inaugural Twenty20 competition.

Loughborough UCCE and Leeds/Bradford UCCE confirmed their status as the top two MCC Universities when they reached the final of the inaugural MCC Universities Twenty20 tournament in Durham on 24 June, having already qualified for the MCC University Challenge Final at Lord's.

Loughborough won he two-day MCC Universities Twenty20 competition fine style, defeating Yorkshire by 8 wickets in the final.

Spriegel: Has been called up by Surrey CCC While Loughborough, coached by ex-England pace bowler Graham Dilley, triumphed in the short form of the game – complete with pink ball and orange stumps – Leeds/Bradford will be hoping to rise to the occasion in their first ever Lord's final.

Graduating with honours

Their cause may be helped by the fact Loughborough are without their regular captain Matthew Spriegel.

Spriegel's success for them this season has earned him a place in the Surrey first XI.

• Spriegel graduates to county cricket

Loughborough finished top of the MCC Universities table after beating Oxford UCCE at home on 21-22 June.

Panesar: A famous MCC UCCE graduate Leeds/Bradford finished second after a high-scoring draw against Durham UCCE.

Loughborough last played in the final in 2005 when a young bowler named Monty Panesar bowled them to victory over Durham with 4-43.

MCC will provide live ball-by-ball commentary for the match online and to blind and visually impaired spectators in the ground.

You can listen in live, perhaps you can spot the next Spriegel, Panesar or star in the making?