Great Bentley welcomed the Marylebone Cricket Club, more commonly known as the MCC to the village on Sunday 17th July, to play a one-day match against our very own village cricket team.
The match was the climax of months of preparation for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of cricket being played on The Green — the first recorded match being played in 1771 between The Essex Gentlemen and Tendring Hundred for the prize of eleven hats!
The day had begun early with a breakfast BBQ and a training session for the growing number of children who are taking up the game in the village. All the children were presented with a medal to commemorate the occasion.
At 11am, to the sound of a peel of church bells being rung to celebrate the event, as is traditional, the two captains, Alex Youngs of Great Bentley, Darren Eckford of the MCC and the umpires, went to the middle to toss a coin to see who would bat or field on scorching hot day. Eckford won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket expertly prepared by the club chairperson, Peter Giles.
As the sun shone brightly and the crowd of over 200 made up of invited guests, villagers and local cricket enthusiasts looked on, Michael Wright had the honour of bowling the first ball to MCC opener Ahmed from the “Pavilion end”. Josh Fowler bowled the second over from the “Surgery end” to Robinson. Both MCC batters soon got into their stride hitting square cuts, pulls and drives often sending the ball racing to the boundary. Bentley captain Youngs used all the bowlers in his armoury throughout the morning session trying to break what was becoming a formidable partnership. While there were a couple of half chances no wickets fell and the MCC reached 227 without loss at lunch.
Lunch, provided by The Fusiliers pub and sponsored by Gibbons Farms, was served in the marquee, and went down extremely well. Perhaps it was the excellent food (or the odd glass of wine !) that reinvigorated the Bentley team but after lunch the wickets began to tumble with Ahmed finally out for an incredible 135 including two towering sixes in one over, closely followed by Robinson who fell for 92. When MCC batter Hills fell to a fantastic running overhead catch by Barney Morton off the bowling of James Pearce with the score on 282-5 the MCC declared. The pick of the bowling was from the excellent James Pearce who took four wickets for 31 in seven overs, the other wicket falling to the bowling of Greg Wainer who was, like the other Bentley bowlers, unlucky not to take more.
The Great Bentley opening batters Michael Giles and Joe Fowler started well chasing 283 to win but Fowler, who had picked up an injury fielding, fell to a leaping slip catch by Fernandes off the bowling of the very impressive Watts with the score on just 10. That wicket bought Barney Morton to the crease who set about making a match of it with some swashbuckling shots while at the other end Giles stoically kept the MCC bowlers at bay. Once Giles fell on 28, tea was taken at 78-2 – just after play was interrupted by the arrival of the local Police helicopter landing on the green much to the excitement of the children – some who were lucky enough to climb aboard.
After tea, James Snowdon fell for a quick fire 13, including three fours in three balls, Adam Cuthbert was clean bowled by Essex second XI player Fernandes for 4 then shortly after Morton fell, also bowled by Fernandes, for an excellent 84. Morton was applauded from the field, not only by the partisan crowd, but also the appreciative opposition. Despite the best efforts of the remaining Bentley batters; Greg Wainer, Ed Kerridge, Josh Fowler and Michael Wright, who all put up strong resistance the wickets were falling with a regularity that suggested only one result was likely. When Bentleys last batter, Lily Wainer, came to the crease there was a mountain to climb to save the game; the score was 178, nine wickets had fallen, the MCC surely has too many overs to get just one more wicket. However, through some classic defensive batting and hitting out when offered the chance, as the match entered the final over one wicket was still needed. The fielders closed in surrounding the batters looking for that vital catch but, very fittingly, the club captain and the only female player on the field held out and the match ended in a well-earned draw. An amazing end to what was a glorious day for both the club and cricket. For the record Great Bentley ended on 192-9 with Sharam and Fernandes taking four wickets a piece for the MCC.
The club would like to thank the MCC, all the sponsors and all those that donated their time and energy to help make this an incredible and memorable day.
