Saturday 11th June 

Margaretting 109 
Mountnessing 106 

Margaretting won by 3 runs. 

After surprisingly finding themselves batting first, despite predictably losing the toss, Margaretting contrived to live down to expectations. Facing a varied attack on a pitch which offered some early turn to the Mountnessing spinners they, in turn, played rash shots to give their wickets away. It was a batting performance far removed from what had been seen in the previous three weeks with the strong line up failing to materialise for once. Lee scored some quick runs late on whilst those around him got in quickly and then out even quicker! 

After the tea interval something special was needed to restore some pride. In recent weeks the MCC attack had caused real problems to teams and the feeling was that if early wickets could be taken a win was a real possibility. However, when Mountnessing got to 36-0 in relative comfort it didnt look quite as promising. Pharris and Hodgson bowled well without much reward but the wicket of the unfortunate Rob Pearce (who played on only to see the bail teeter off the stumps) set about a mini collapse. However, even at 86-5 the visitors looked favourites. Margaretting dug deep and stayed positive throughout. Mike took an excellent catch to dismiss a settled batsman off OG’s bowling (battling through the pain of a quite nasty disease, God rest his soul) before OG was given a reprieve (of sorts) to out think and bowl their top scorer on the day. This wicket caused another collapse with Lee doing all sorts of damage at the other end and ending with excellent figures of 6-17 (with three awards of the day in the bag for good measure!). The final wicket saw Big Nick make amends for an earlier faux pas to expertly stump Looney via pad. 

All in all, a match in which we underperformed with the bat but excelled with belief and commitment in the field to record what was in the end a quite remarkable victory.

Saturday 4th June

MCC vs. Tillingham II [Home] WON

291-8 & 193-9 

Pres 4 
Buck 22 
Lerry 0 
Rod 1 
Chris J 47 
OG 75 
Lee 68 
Dave 20* 
Roper 16 
Mike 1* 

Mike 7-1-12-0 [1.72 rpo] 
Vinay 12-1-60-1 [5 rpo] 
Dave 7-3-13-3 [1.86 rpo] 
Lerry 8-1-35-2 [4.38 rpo] 
Lee 5-0-24-0 [4.8 rpo] 
Rod 3-0-19-1 [6.33 rpo] 
Pres 3-0-14-0 [4.66 rpo] 

Saturday 28th May

MCC vs. Bentley III [Away] WON

Bentley 84 all out 
MCC 87-3

The MCC skipper once again lost the toss, but was afforded the use of the new ball on a grey day. The bowlers took full advantage, once again dismissing a side for under 100. Mike and new signing Dave opened up and shared 5 wickets in the opening 16 overs. Hodgson, as unplayable as he’s been, mixing up some unplayable quick, short stuff with plenty of wicket taking deliveries. It worked a treat as his opening partner Dave Hill secured figures of 3-22 on his debut with a very accurate display of bowling, using the movement to his advantage. 

Vinay and Lee came on to take the next 5 wickets with a mixture of pure speed and cunning that was backed up by some great fielding yet again - in particular an excellent display behind the stumps from Chris Roper and a good catch pouched by Pres. 

Mike 8-1-30-2 
Dave 8-0-22-3 
Vinay 7.3-2-10-3 
Lee 7-0-21-2 


We chased a total which probably caused a few of us to have lapses of concentration. Buck and Lerry recorded a partnership of 55 as Buck scored 11 and Lerry 51* as we reached the target in 22 overs. Well done to Lerry on his maiden league half-century for MCC. 

Pres 1 
Buck 11 
Lerry 51* 
Rod 6 
Hanson 4* 

Bowler - Dave 
Batsman - Lerry 
Fielder - Roper 
Donkey - Vinay. Late. Again. 
MOM - Dave.

Saturday 21st May 

MCC vs. Roxwell Blues [Home] WON

MCC 259-7 
Roxwell 96 All Out 

An excellent all-round performance, with a proper batting innings followed by some aggression and pace with the ball to beat a team who had previously not lost this season. 

The platform was set brilliantly by Buck and Pres who were always scoring at more than 4 an over before some explosive middle order batting from Lee (26 in one over), Rod, Mike and Roper saw us race to an intimidating total. 

In reply, Roxwell got off to a great start with 23 scored in the first two overs before a catastrophic run out (highly celebratory) set the MCC wheels in motion. Wickets fell at very regular intervals with Mike and Vinay bowling a superb line and length to cause havoc. Vinay took two good c&b to get this first league wickets for the club and Mike showed improvement yet again. Jack came on to finish off the tail with two excellent ’bowled’ wickets to leave Roxwell stunned. 

I can’t talk highly enough about the way we went about our business. A real ’team’ performance.

Pres 57

Buck 26

Lerry 26

Rod 41

Lee 40

Ollie 0

Mike 15

Roper 20*

Vinay 1*

Vinay 12-3-38-3

Mike 8-0-38-4

Jack 3.3-1-10-2

Saturday 14th May

MCC vs. Rettendon II [Away] LOST

MCC 168-8. (Buck 82 the star of the show. Only got out in last over, sacrificing his wicket for the team. An excellent innings, doing his job completely, unfortunately he was let down by us other batsmen. Mike got another good not out knock of 13 at the end of the innings and Pres-15, Lerry-16 and Lee-16 all looked comfortable when in, without going on to capitalise. The skipper recorded a dismal duck.). 

Rettendon 169-2 (Won the game with 2 overs to spare, although were always up with the rate and batted very watchfully, giving us very little by way of chances). Pharris and Vinay bowled tightly to open and all carried that on but we just didnt get the breakthroughs when needed. Mike and Pharris got one wicket each. 

Pres 15

Buck 82

Rod 0

Hari 6

Lerry 16

Lee 16

Roper 0

Vinay 1

Mike 13*

Pharris 4*

Vinay 4-2-23-0

Pharris 11-1-38-1

Mike 4-1-21-1

Pres 4-0-14-0

Lee 8-2-26-0

Lerry 6-0-17-0

Hari 1.5-0-16-0

 Saturday 7th May

MCC vs. Rayleigh III [Home] LOST

Rayleigh III 215-7 MCC 211-9

A real topsy-turvy game ended with us falling just short yesterday after it looked like we were dead and buried. We kept Rayleigh down to 215-7 with some tight bowling and the taking of regular wickets. However, we probably let them get a few more than they deserved, mainly due to my dropped catch and donkey moment which saw their top scorer score 68 instead of 0. Despite that, we were really energetic and lively in the field. Buck the star of the show - chasing, blocking and kneeing the ball to safety! 

Vinay 8-3-19-0 
Lerry 8-0-42-0 
Pres 7-2-20-2 
OG 9-1-36-4 
Mike 5-0-35-0 
Lee 5-0-35-1 
Jack 3-0-15-0 

We got off to a slow start in the chase but built momentum gradually. Unfortunately we couldnt keep wickets in hand and despite a partnership between Me and Buck of 52, another lively knock of 34 from Lee, some showboating from Vinay and a final wicket stand of 65 we needed 9 from the final over to win and fell four funs short. 

Pres 10 
Buck 28 
Rod 29 
OG 6 
Lee 34 
Robbo 1 
Lerry 9 
Vinay 12 
Roper 50* 
Jack 0 
Mike 17* 

Special mention must go to Man of the Match Chris Roper, who scored a maiden league 50 in 41 balls and also took a sharp stumping. His partnership with Mike was ideal for the situation - Mike batting technically well, rotating the strike and Roper batting more cavalier, hitting the gaps, running hard and not panicking. It was a fine example of how chasing 6+ per over is possible and why we should never give up. Although we didnt win, it was great to see us get so close and i’m sure there’s even more improvements to come from us this season.

Sunday 6th June

Well done at the weekend chaps. The winning run continued on Sunday against Mount CC at Alleyn Court. Batting wasn’t easy on a damp pitch and with occasional showers, and Mount were bowled out for 121. 2 wkts apiece for Lee, Robbo, Jack and DG plus one each for Mike and Rod. In reply, and in trying to emulate the Saturday side, we were 27-4 at one point but a stand of 95 between Chris R, 11no, and Lee, 73no, took us past the total required. 

Sunday 29th May

Stock 157ao - MCC won by 8 wickets

Robbo 5-18 off 7 the pick of the bowling, and a superb tea by the way.

Great knock from OG, 67*, well supported by Big Nick 36 and Buckie lates 20's*

Sunday 22nd May

South Weald - 105 all out from about 30 overs. 
Margaretting - 108-1 from about 23. 

Mike 5-0-12-1 
Dave V 5-0-21-1 
Jack 5-0-23-2 
OG 9 (ahem) - 2-19-3 
Jon B 5-3-17-1 
Lee 0.5-0-2-1 

MCC 108-1 (22 overs) 

Rod 36* 
Lerry 60 
DG 0* 

Another top performance to make it a great weekend for the club. Credit to the whole team and particularly the skipper. Well done Chris - great job today and a 100% record! 

Sunday 8th May

MCC 232-6 
A good start with 50 on the board off 8 overs, Nick scoring 34. Some good slow bowling slowed the rate and at 86-4 a modest total seemed likely, not helped by the unfortunate run-out of Buckie. However, Rod redeemed himself with a fine knock of 70no sharing partnerships of 70 with Paul Beesley (49) and 54 with Jack (16, a PB) to post a decent score but one that in the past hasn’t been enough. 

Mountnessing 234-7 
And so it proved. Alex Pearce once again the thorn in our side, opening and scoring a chanceless 112no. Wickets fell regularly at the other end but it wasn’t enough and we lost with 4 overs to go. Excellent bowling from the two Rettendon guys who helped us out on the day, Andy Bennett 2-15 off 8 and Beesley 1-25. Bellars’ direct hit for a run-out is worthy of mention (if only for its rarity value!)