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The MCC stepped up on their UKMCL-2016 standings after they defeated the KCWA convincingly by 7 wickets.
Earlier in the afternoon at John Ruskin’s, Croydon on Saturday 07th May, KCWA won the toss and elected to bat. They had a steady start with Sajeev Parameswaran and Sajeev Bhanu added 74 runs in the first 11 overs. Rajaneesh gave first breakthrough for MCC in his 4th over taking the wicket of Sajeev Parameswaran, misjudged his delivery to a top edge. When captain introduced new bowlers, MCC slowly pull the run rate back with some accurate and consistent bowling by Zaibak and Shahul. Varun, who crunched two boundaries through cover in the 12th over, departed with a delivery which moved away just enough taking the outside edge to wicket keeper Aghilan of the bowling of Babbin. Aghilan as usual was very athletic behind the stumps and saved plenty of runs for MCC. Sajeev Bhanu was in brilliant form, hits four fabulous boundaries and one huge six in his 72 balls, 38 runs innings ended up as top scorer in KCWA innings.
The rescue for KCWA came through Thomas, as the minute he walked out to bat, played his natural attacking game to put the pressure back on the bowlers. The first delivery he faced gone as flash to the cover boundary. Thomas continued to attack the MCC bowlers, hit Biju for 2 huge sixes over mid-wicket and a four to the cover boundary. Thomas scored 32 from just 16 balls, finally held by Zaibak of Denin, while Ashish had made his patient 23 from 35 balls.
KCWA all out in the 34th over set a target of 198 in 35 overs MCC to win. KCWA’s target seemed never enough on an excellent batting surface on a bright and sunny day in Croydon.
MCC Openers Sanju and Denin started the innings serenely. Sanju and Denin negotiated the early overs from Sunny, but were struggling to find the natural game. Denin, departed trying for a big hit and caught by Sajeev of Varun leaving MCC 30 for 1. Aghilan, joined Sanju, in the crease was as cool as ever and the pair started to tick the score board in singles and doubles.
When Sanju was trapped lbw by medium pacer Binu, the real hero of the day Rajaneesh came in and took the crowd on a journey. Rajaneesh’s 65 balls 86 runs innings was a treat to watch as he convincingly beat the fielders on the boundary with his sheer ability to find the gaps. As a result, the outfielders were unable to anticipate where he was looking to hit the ball. He ran them ragged with 6 sixes and 4 boundaries in his superbly constructed innings with the support of ever dependable Aghilan 40 runs of 43 balls at the other end. Aghilan was on his way to 3rd consecutive half century, but unfortunately caught and bowled by Ashish. KCWA’s captain brought all of his players except wicket keeper on to the bowling crease in a desperate attempt to break this partnership at the early stages, but never materialised.
After Aghilan’s Dismissal Skipper Praveen came in to the crease and he took on phlegmatically, clipping boundaries all over the field. The MCC skipper was in very good form remained unbeaten on 35 from 24 Balls that include 2 huge sixes and a boundary. Both never gave the hosts a chance to win and got past the target convincingly with 5 overs and 2 Balls to spare.
