Glorious weather blessed the all-day match between TWCC and MCC, and the cricket lived up to all expectations, with a finely-judged declaration leading to a memorable final few overs in the evening sun. A delightful lunch further marked out the occasion as one to savour.
Michael Barber (142) charmed the crowd with perfect placement and exquisite timing, powering twenty-two fours en route to a high-class century. Chris Hammond assisted as the first wicket produced a steady 68 runs from sixteen overs, but the second partnership with Tyler Griffin provided the main substance of the innings. Barber was in danger of reaching three figures before lunch until he was becalmed in the final few overs, and the attack was generally rendered rather friendly by the easy surface.
After the break, the second stand was taken along at increasing pace, until, at length, Griffin was well taken in the deep for a pulsating 69 as Will Arthur completed a quite remarkable catch by the fence. Barber was bowled by Will Clark shortly afterwards, and the declaration came a few runs later, setting Wells to make 259 for victory.
Will Stickler and Sam Watts each made vigorous forties after the score had reached 68-0 at tea, and these two moved the total along to 93-2 before the reply really took shape. Richard Cutts (60, with eleven fours) and Arthur (57) now played splendid attacking cricket as they romped along merrily at six-per-over, adding 110 runs in all for the third wicket to take the chase to within 56 runs of the win with 14 overs left. MCC now closed out the run-in as skipper Karl Pearson (3-35) with Jason Finch (2-18) changed the course of the game in an outstanding turn-around, and the home batsmen crumbled under the pressure. Five wickets fell for 31 runs before a brief revival featured Nigel Keess and skipper Jamie Baldwin, and this led to 12 being needed from the last two overs. The bowlers had their way, however, and the last pair barely held out for the draw while falling four short of the win.
And so a grand game of cricket was concluded with honours even by a margin that was narrow from either perspective. |
