KEEPING LORD'S WORLD CLASS
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MCC’s young cricketers enjoyed two impressive wins in the Second Eleven County Championship against Durham and Sussex.
Mark Alleyne’s MCC Young Cricketers (YCs) beat a strong Durham II side by four wickets, while Alleyne’s predecessor as MCC Head Coach, Clive Radley, coached the MCC Universities to a three-wicket win over Sussex IIs.
The MCC Universities side comprises the best unsigned MCCU players and the Sussex match was their first this season after a summer term full of cricket.
They will hope to continue their 100% record when they take on Essex II on 7-9 July. Sussex II batted first and made 359-6, before Rory Burns and Ed Young made 131 and 79 respectively in the MCCU’s total of 319.
Loughborough’s Alex Welsh took 3-20 to help restrict Sussex to 263-9 in their second innings, leaving 313 to chase.
Although opener Burns fell for one, two decent partnerships of 73 between Jak Martin and Daniel Bendon, and then of 159 between Bendon and Young took the MCCUs to within sniffing distance of victory at 263-4.
Bendon’s 105 was brought to an end by England bowler Monty Panesar; Ed Young made 84 and Leeds’ Rich Moore took the MCCUs over the finish line.
Staring at defeat
At Uxbridge, the MCC YCs faced a Durham II side containing a couple of Radley’s former charges at Lord’s, captain Michael Richardson and Will Gidman.
Batting first, Richardson and Gidman enjoyed themselves, scoring 133 not out and 63 respectively, while former Durham CCC captain, Will Smith, made 66.
The county players declared at 405-4.
In reply only Ned Eckersley capitalised on his start for the YCs, making 92 in a total of 235.
With Durham piling on the runs in their second innings - they declared at 226 without loss - the YCs could have been forgiven for thinking they stared a heavy defeat in the face, but this time they supported Eckersley and chased down 397 to win for the loss of just six wickets.
Eckersley made an unbeaten 117; Paul Muchall 88; and Glenn Querl 50 not out to register a brilliant win for the YCs.