UCCE in SA blog - 18 March

by Garri Jones, Tour Manager

The MCC Universities squad departed Lord's on March 13th for a 17 day, nine match tour of South Africa, culminating with 3 one day matches and a 3 day match against South Africa Universities.

The squad arrived at Heathrow to find their plane still in Sydney! The enforced overnight stay at Heathrow and the ensuing day flight allowed the squad to bond.

MCCU are based for the whole 17 days in Cape Town and will play in Cape Town (including a game at Newlands) and in Stellanbosch.

The weather is sunny and warm with a vicious wind off the Atlantic.

After a day of nets on Saturday, we played Western Provence Academy in two one day matches on Sunday and Monday.

In the first game, MCCU won the toss and batted.

To the backing sound of the Palm Sunday choirs, the opposition seamers pitched the ball up and used the morning moisture to good effect. Our top order seemed to be batting with palms as three were promptly clean bowled.

Only Duncan Bradshaw showed any top order resistance and once the Western Province spinners took advantage of an end of season wicket the writing was on the wall.

Patrick Foster held out but the MCCU were bundled out for 95.

Ruel Brathwaite in practice All seemed lost, but Paul McMahon our captain and off-spinner and Shaaiq Coudry, our left arm spinner, bowled beautifully in tandem and had the WPA in real trouble at 80 for 6.

At that stage the WPA's Shalkwyk decided that attack was the best form of defence and hit the returning Ruel Brathwaite over long off for six - a shot worthy of winning any match.

MCCU lost by 4 wickets, but were encouraged by an aggressive display in the field.

Monday's match

Monday's game found the boot on the other foot. Having being inserted, WPA struggled early against seam especially Richard King's left arm seamers.

Then McMahon, Choudry and Spriegel bowled 30 overs of devastating spin with McMahon returning outstanding figures of 10-3-16-6 including three leg side wides!

WPA were bowled out for 125.

MCCU's run chase was based around an unbeaten 65 from vice - captain Spriegel and MCCU won comfortably by 7 wickets.

The only worrying development was an injury to Robbie Williams after an impressive opening spell.

Victory and St Patrick's Day was celebrated at the first official team dinner on the veranda of Cape Town's Mount Nelson hotel.

The squad is resting today and then will net hard tomorrow in preparation for the final warm up game against a combined Western Provence and Cape Town University side at Newlands on Thursday.