WEATHER REIGNS SUPREME

All MCC fixtures washed out this past weekend...

Yassis it was only Swaar for Swaraj

The SA 8 team made the great trek to the Masala Desert (LENZ) for the fixture against Azad Swaraj. It was useless to predict what the wicket was going to do coz it was just an Astro wicket. Captain Braveheart Rashaad Rawat choose to bowl first on the astro turf and it proved to be a good decision as Hamza Bhai and Muhajir "Broekies" Rawat ripped the opening line up to shreds. The opposition were reeling at 6 runs for 3 wickets at one stage, but as usual we slacked of and underestimated the opposition who were able to muster up a brave 100 all out.

The mental strength of the team was key to pulling of a win against a team who play mind games throughout the entire innings. Avi "Clueless" Goven and Hamza bhai were victims of these mind games and the saying of "HOU KOP" or "HOLD YOUR HEAD" proved to be the deciding factor in ensuring the victory was in the bag.

Hazrat Joe Chotia bagged the man of the match performance for his batting performance of 38 runs and overall the team dynamics are now all falling onto place.

We now march on the the next fixture Boeta over and out..

SA8 MCC vs. Midrand 7/11/2009

Once again a super effort from our bowlers as MCC restricted Midrand to 130 all out. Pick of the bowlers Muhajir Rawat with figures of 3/19.

Looking at our batting scorecard, it sure seemed like our batsmen upfront were playing "tata ma chance" as we lost 3 wickets with only 30 runs on the board. Once again Muhajir “brookies” came to the rescue and played a patient knock of 26 not out to secure victory.
Man of the match: Muhajir Rawat for his 3/19 with the ball and 26 not out.

Awesome team performance and nice to see the Skipper happy :)

MCC SA5 DOING THE BUSINESS AGAINST BEDFORDVIEW

Another sterling performance by SA5 as they march up the table.

Bowling first, MCC restricted Bedfordview to 158/6 in their allotted 40 overs. Aadil superb with the new ball,taking 2/17 in his 8 overs.Consistent great pace by Aadil has been a highlight of the season thus far,always keeping the openers honest, and getting a good start with the ball.

On the batting side, Moosa Patel hit some form with a splendid 48, and the match concluded with another man of the match performance by Farhad scoring 50 not out.

The captain was stern towards his players after the game however. Too many wides,batsman throwing their wickets away at crucial times, and some indiscipline creeping into play.The team though is improving as a unit. A winning culture instilled in the players as well.There is a chance for league glory this season. All players got to pull their weight and rise during crucial fixtures, and the results I am sure, will speak for themselves.

SA9 TRIUMPHS AGAINST LCC

Naeem Nathi - Man of the Match scoring 42 not out and also taking 2 wickets.

Marlboro Cricket Club SA9 bowled out LCC for 133.

It looked liked they were heading for defeat at 54/5. In stepped Naeem Nathi and Muhammad Seedat.They steadied the innings, but in the nineties disaster struck. Mohammed had to retire due to illness(or old catching up with the toppies??). MCC Legend Ismail "Jones" Loonat strode in and he and Nathi went on to finish off the match. Jones not out for 11.

Disappointing examples set by the captain (Mr Dislocated Finger) and vice captain(butterfingers), both dropping catches!!

All round a good performance by the lads.

CONGRATS TO OUR MAN BHANA

Great developments off the field...




Bhana, we salute you.

MCC Secretary Mohamed Bhana got engaged to Fatima( sister of ex-secretary Naeem Loonat's wife) on Saturday evening.

Speaking to blog reporter Eboo at the reception, a cool Bhana quipped:
"This feels better than scoring a century!"

On behalf of the players and supporters of MCC, we wish Mohamed and Fatima well on this joyous occasion and all the happiness and contentment in your future lives together.

Mumbai boy hits record 439 in school cricket tie

MUMBAI: "I swear I'll never hit another 400 in my life. Slogging on the field is way easier than posing!" joked 12-year-old Sarfaraz Khan as he flopped down with fatigue on the grass at Cross Maidan after the glut of cameras made him pose and pout with his gear on till they were sure they had had enough of him.

The 12-year-old lad from Springfield Rizvi smashed his way into the record books when he scored 439 against a hapless Indian Education Society in the U-16 inter-school Harris Shield three-day match on Wednesday. Sarfaraz faced 421 balls and hit an incredible 12 sixes and 56 fours - which tots up to a near-triple century in only fours and sixes -- over two days. This is the highest score by an individual in the 113-year history of the holy grail of school cricket in the city, and with it Sarfaraz erased the previous mark of 422 by Sanjeev Jadhav of Shardashram Vidyamandir in 1986.

The Harris Shield is the same tournament that launched Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli, representing Shardashram, who strung a record 664-run alliance against St Xavier's in 1988. Incidentally, Tendulkar's 329 and Kambli's 349 rank among the top ten in the tournament's history. Interestingly, the Rizvi total of 750-9 declared in 122 overs was a notch higher than what Tendulkar and Kambli's team amassed (748-2 in 120 overs).

Resuming at his overnight score of 225, the spangle-eyed Sarfaraz walked in with a message - 300. The only time the Std VI lad took his eyes off the ball was to take in the numbers coach Raju Pathak was putting together on his fingers, indicating his next target. "I am a complete target person. You tell me you want this and I'll give it to you. Once I touched my triple century, word came in about Sachin Tendulkar's mark of 358. That conquered, I managed 400 and that's when the record came into the picture. I was thrilled to bits."

SA5 PUTS SCAW TO THE SWORD

MCC SA5 put in a wonderful performance to record their third victory of the season.

After a downpour at our home oval, Chairman Zain quickly arranged to move to fixture to Scawlands. Bowling first on a rather sleepy wicket MCC bundled out the host for a meagre 134. Chief destroyers Nasier 4/33 and Juju,turning back the years 4/19.

The chase with a large storm loooming, was awesome. After openers Moosa and Zain departed, Eboo looked good scoring 39 off 42 balls, and Farhad 50 not out off 59.Nasier ended the game with a huge six!

However, yet again we struggled to kill off the game after taking the early advantage.In my opinion, we are under-estimating the oppositions lower order and bowling erratically rather than sticking to what we good at. If we stick to the basics and make the batsman look for the runs, the wickets should take care of themselves. We are improving and this season looks full of promise.

Next fixture: Away to Bedfordview...

MAN OF THE MATCH SA5 AGAINST SCAW

(Farhad Essop 50 not out) & Nazeer Hafijee (7 overs 4/19)

CONGRATS BOYZ!

SA9 ON WINNING WAYS

The MCC SA9 team overcame Zulfikars XI with a fine all round team performance.




Amod was in fine form scoring 59



Nathie also had a great afternoon scoring 40* and taking 3/36



OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Patrou's chicken tikka was awesome!!!

Captain Makda once again dropped a eeeeeeeeezy catch.

Brilliant individual effort by Chodree with a great direct hit onto the stump!!



ONCE AGAIN AN ENTERTAINING AFTERNOON OF CRICKET ENJOYED BY THE LADS.

video of wickets SA5

HOPE IT WORKS! SORRY NO SOUND

SA5 AGAINST AZAD SWARAJ

The field look like the back of a pickitup truck as the SA5 XI arrived at Lenasia Progress Grounds, eager to continue where they left off after a convincing victory against Old Maristonians 7 days before.
After some picking it up, and sweeping excess water off the playing area, the game began with MCC bowling first.
It seems Nasier's usage of Sheen for 'curvy' hair from Pops paid off, as he went on bamboozling the Swaraj top order with a 'fifer' 5/25 off his 8 overs.
At drinks Azad Swaraj 71/6. But slow over rate cost 40 penalty runs.9 down for 158. Target 199

The chase was dismal.
Swaraj bowling was superb. Moving the ball all over the show,our batsman not upto the challenge. MCC finished on 145
Moosa , Kadwa , Eboo , Archie ,telephone numbers.
Farhad the only batsman with respectability, 69. (Some other sorta number!)

All in all a lesson learnt. Elementary error not completing the allotted overs costed in the end.
Men of the Match: Farhaad and Nasier.