MCC v Malawi Chairman's B XI - match report

by Lt. Col Tim Lerwill (Tour Manager)

The MCC were hosted by the Mpingwe Sports Club for their second match against Malawi Cricket Union (MCU) sides.

This was yet another picturesque ground reminiscent of the colonial era – a large ground dominated by an elegant clubhouse where lunch was taken and drinks were constantly produced from the aptly named “Tuck Shop”.

This was the first of two games to be played this weekend against the MCU Chairman’s XI.

The MCC won the toss and elected to bat on a surface that promised to be no faster than previously experienced on Tour.

This early assessment was to be pessimistic as for the first 40 overs there was some pace and bounce: after that the playing surface became more difficult to bat on.

Top score: Alan Gofton Riding its luck, MCC started positively and Neil Pearson, 31, and Alan Gofton, 75, produced the best opening stand of the Tour to allow the skipper Michael Foster, 25, and Simon Cook, 38, to post a challenging 235 off the allotted 45 overs.

The Chairman’s XI started briskly but soon lost two quick wickets to the pace and accuracy of Luke Vinter but Boppy, top scorer the day before for the Development XI, soon reminded MCC of his potential.

Starting where he had left off the previous day, he moved the ball around, rotated the scoreboard and moved comfortably to 23 before becoming the first of Jonathan Bailey’s three wickets.

Bailey again took wickets but was also unceremoniously smote to the boundaries by Karamat Chaudry, another development player.

The introduction of Graeme Rickman, whose leg breaks by now were turning square, was far too much for the MCU players to score off – safely.

Nevertheless, though wickets continued to fall, the run rate remained in touch and the MCU Chairman’s XI reached 159 before the final wicket fell leaving the MCC at 6 for 0 on Tour.

After a small presentation ceremony, the players moved to the Blantyre Sports Club to catch the final moments of the England v Australia Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final, the Team photograph and to prepare for the MCU invitation Reception Dinner.