Bottom order resistance in vain as MCC triumph by 15 runs
Lascelles Hall hosted an entertaining encounter as the MCC recorded a 15-run victory over Huddersfield U21s, despite a spirited late fightback from the home side.
Huddersfield's bowlers Connor Parr (Armitage Bridge) and Max Turner (Golcar) made early in-roads removing Garett and Matthew Weston, leaving the MCC struggling at 12-2 after three overs.
Opener Perry started locating the Highfield Lane boundary and was well-supported by Huddersfield based Tom Addy. The pair put on 47 for the third wicket before Stanley Dey (Thurstonland) bowled Addy.
Perry continued forming solid partnerships adding 58 with Schofield and 45 with Marshall. He was eventually dismissed in the 45th over making an invaluable 79 from 124 balls - including 13 boundaries with MCC on 192-7.
The MCC lower-order took advantage of the Huddersfield spin bowlers - Marshall finishing with 46 from 38 balls - including four sixes. He shared an 8th wicket partnership with Glynn who finished with 17 from 11 balls. Following Marshall’s departure, MCC declared their innings on 225 after 48.2 overs.
Barkisland's Milton Greenwood finished with 3-50 from 6.2 overs. The other five Huddersfield bowlers took a wicket each.
Huddersfield's reply got off to the worst possible start with MCC skipper Harry Moore (Honley) being caught behind to the first ball of the innings from Porter. Porter bowled well from the Kirkheaton end and soon collected Willem Sevenster (Emley Clarenve) and the other opener Logan Swann (Slaithwaite), leaving Huddersfield 3-33 after 9 overs.
Wickets continued to fall - Bode Ratcliffe (Slaithwaite) for no score, Lewis Senior (Cumberworth United) for 18 and Greenwood for 2. At 74-6 after 19 overs Huddersfield were struggling to make 100! Max Turner and Lewis Ambler then departed with the score stuck on 89 with Huddersfield still needing an unlikely 136.
However, Dey and Odhran Tiffany (Marsden) started to hit boundaries and both shared in an epic 9th wicket partnership of 63 - before Tiffany holed out for an aggressive 37 from 31 deliveries.
Dey was eventually the last man out for 55 off 59 balls (including three mighty sixes). He was supported by last-man Parr, who finished with 27 from 25 balls, with ultimately Huddersfield U21s finishing 15 runs short at 210 all out.
Porter was the pick of the MCC bowlers, finishing with 4-26 after 8.2 overs. Marshall also bowled well finishing with 3-14 from five overs.
Following the match, MCC captain Harvey Booth gave an impressive speech regarding the spirit of cricket - especially in light of the current "Clickgate" scandal. He also thanked the Lascelles Hall volunteers for their work in hosting the event.
To view the scorecard click here
Report written by Tim Hirst
