Saturday, 2nd August 2025
Conference XIs
Representative XI
v.
MCC
Date:
2013-07-17
Start time:
11:00am
Location:
High Wycombe CC
Ground:
London Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
High Wycombe
Bucks
Postcode:
Tel:
01494 537878
Pre-amble:
50/50 overs match
CCC Match Manager - Simon Prodger
CCC Coach - Min Patel
CCC Umpire - Keir Hopley
CCC Scorer - John Goodman
CCC Match Manager - Simon Prodger
CCC Coach - Min Patel
CCC Umpire - Keir Hopley
CCC Scorer - John Goodman
Team:
Mark Smith (Wimbledon CC) - capt
Efren Cruz (Guildford CC) - WK
Eddie Ballard (Bishop's Stortford CC)
James Cramp (Bromley Common CC)
Justin Granger (Sunbury CC)
Waqas Hussain (Slough CC)
Min Patel (Bexley CC)
Rishi Sharath (Slough CC)
Edward Wharton (Hornsey CC)
Richard Wharton (Hornsey CC)
Alex Williams (Tunbridge Wells CC)
Efren Cruz (Guildford CC) - WK
Eddie Ballard (Bishop's Stortford CC)
James Cramp (Bromley Common CC)
Justin Granger (Sunbury CC)
Waqas Hussain (Slough CC)
Min Patel (Bexley CC)
Rishi Sharath (Slough CC)
Edward Wharton (Hornsey CC)
Richard Wharton (Hornsey CC)
Alex Williams (Tunbridge Wells CC)
Match report:
MCC - 245 for 9 wkts (50 overs)
CCC - 246 for 3 wkts (47.5 overs)
CCC won by 7 wkts
On a perfect summer's day and on a classic cricket ground, MCC and CCC renewed their annual rivalry, both sides keen to win the toss on such a hot day.
MCC duly did so and elected to bat, committing the Conference to a long session in the field, defending a lightning fast outfield. With Aiden Blizzard opening the batting, MCC were hoping for an early onslaught to compile a first innings score that might cow the Conference team later in the day. The best laid plans however, are often overturned and it was the Conference that took the honours in the early stages, led by veteran military medium pace bowler, Justin Granger (Sunbury CC). In a spell of mesmerising swing bowling 'Danger' accounted for the first three wickets, including that of Blizzard, reducing MCC to 38-3 and featuring an outstanding catch at square leg by Alex Williams (Tunbridge Wells CC), taking a stinger on the horizontal to dismiss Russell.
On such a good wicket, batsmen were bound to get in at some stage and Ryan and Devon minor county player Holman, began the rebuilding of the MCC innings with some watchful graft against a Conference attack that maintained admirable discipline throughout. As MCC attempted to quicken the pace, captain Mark Smith (Wimbledon CC) accounted for two wickets, including Ryan for 62. Granger was reintroduced into the attack and claimed a further two to finish with 5- 52, and two direct hit run outs by Waqas Hussain (Slough CC) enabled the Conference to keep MCC shackled as their innings drew to a close. Holman remained undefeated on 88 as the innings closed on 245-9 off the allotted 50 overs.
There was a sneaking suspicion that this total may have been 30 runs light, as the outfield ensured anything hit through the ring was seldom chased down. Three outstanding catches, two run outs and a decent all round fielding performance in support of the bowlers offered the Conference confidence in believing it could chase down the MCC score.
Eddie Ballard (Bishop’s Stortford CC) and Alex Williams settled into the task of establishing the Conference reply and never looked in trouble against steady but unthreatening bowling. It came as a surprise when Williams was dismissed for 23, by which time Ballard was established and beginning to time the ball beautifully through the covers. Whilst Richard Wharton (Hornsey CC) struggled before being dismissed for 3, Hussain and Smith supported Ballard with flowing and forceful knocks, shepherding him to a genuinely outstanding century, chanceless and full of shots. It was Ballard, who finished undefeated on 143 and Smith who saw the Conference home with the best part of three overs to spare, to complete a comprehensive victory by 7 wickets.
Whilst the batting was in itself impressive, the management took even greater satisfaction in the bowling and fielding performance earlier in the day from a talented group of players that ably demonstrated the quality of performance CCC is capable of and should be aspiring to play each time they take to the pitch.
Simon Prodger, 18/7/2013.
For the full scorecard, copy the link below into your search address bar.
CCC - 246 for 3 wkts (47.5 overs)
CCC won by 7 wkts
On a perfect summer's day and on a classic cricket ground, MCC and CCC renewed their annual rivalry, both sides keen to win the toss on such a hot day.
MCC duly did so and elected to bat, committing the Conference to a long session in the field, defending a lightning fast outfield. With Aiden Blizzard opening the batting, MCC were hoping for an early onslaught to compile a first innings score that might cow the Conference team later in the day. The best laid plans however, are often overturned and it was the Conference that took the honours in the early stages, led by veteran military medium pace bowler, Justin Granger (Sunbury CC). In a spell of mesmerising swing bowling 'Danger' accounted for the first three wickets, including that of Blizzard, reducing MCC to 38-3 and featuring an outstanding catch at square leg by Alex Williams (Tunbridge Wells CC), taking a stinger on the horizontal to dismiss Russell.
On such a good wicket, batsmen were bound to get in at some stage and Ryan and Devon minor county player Holman, began the rebuilding of the MCC innings with some watchful graft against a Conference attack that maintained admirable discipline throughout. As MCC attempted to quicken the pace, captain Mark Smith (Wimbledon CC) accounted for two wickets, including Ryan for 62. Granger was reintroduced into the attack and claimed a further two to finish with 5- 52, and two direct hit run outs by Waqas Hussain (Slough CC) enabled the Conference to keep MCC shackled as their innings drew to a close. Holman remained undefeated on 88 as the innings closed on 245-9 off the allotted 50 overs.
There was a sneaking suspicion that this total may have been 30 runs light, as the outfield ensured anything hit through the ring was seldom chased down. Three outstanding catches, two run outs and a decent all round fielding performance in support of the bowlers offered the Conference confidence in believing it could chase down the MCC score.
Eddie Ballard (Bishop’s Stortford CC) and Alex Williams settled into the task of establishing the Conference reply and never looked in trouble against steady but unthreatening bowling. It came as a surprise when Williams was dismissed for 23, by which time Ballard was established and beginning to time the ball beautifully through the covers. Whilst Richard Wharton (Hornsey CC) struggled before being dismissed for 3, Hussain and Smith supported Ballard with flowing and forceful knocks, shepherding him to a genuinely outstanding century, chanceless and full of shots. It was Ballard, who finished undefeated on 143 and Smith who saw the Conference home with the best part of three overs to spare, to complete a comprehensive victory by 7 wickets.
Whilst the batting was in itself impressive, the management took even greater satisfaction in the bowling and fielding performance earlier in the day from a talented group of players that ably demonstrated the quality of performance CCC is capable of and should be aspiring to play each time they take to the pitch.
Simon Prodger, 18/7/2013.
For the full scorecard, copy the link below into your search address bar.
Scorecard:
http://ccc-repxi.play-cricket.com/website/results/630131