No target too big for the home sides

It began with a remarkable performance from the Elizabeth College First XI, who pulled off a superb victory at the College Field having been set 268 to win by the tourists in Tuesday’s declaration game.

Opener Dan Wood had scored a rapid century for the MCC, hitting 18 fours in his 93 balls, while Riz Alam added 90 at a run-a-ball after coming in at the fall of the first wicket, which was that of Ward Jenner.

But despite losing captain Fintan Ridgwick in the first over of the reply, the students’ positive approach to their innings paid off handsomely as they won by two wickets.

Ollie Clapham was one of the stars with the bat, top-scoring with 70 to add to his two wickets earlier in the day, and there were also valuable contributions from Will Stewart, Dan Thomas and Charlie Forshaw, as the hosts reached their target having faced one ball less than their opposition.

MCC moved onto the KGV on Wednesday where they faced strong GCB XIs in back-to-back T20 games.

The home side won the first comfortably by 50 runs having posted 174 for 3 batting first.

Luke Le Tissier made a half-century at the top of the order while Ben Fitchet, Josh Butler and Zak Damarell all chipped in with good runs.

Forshaw and Le Tissier both took three wickets as MCC were bowled out for 124 in reply.

The second contest turned out to be a cracker in which Dan Waite was particularly unlucky to finish on the losing side after some sensational clean hitting saw him score a magnificent 117 off 54 balls, with 10 fours and nine sixes as the tourists racked up 204.

The GCB XI were always in a shout in their chase, though, with Fitchet and Damarell among the runs again while Tom Nightingale made a brisk 56.

They still had plenty of work to do going into the last three overs, but Tom Kirk struck three successive boundaries to renew hope and he and Butler finished off the job with a ball to spare.