Persistence prevails as Ratcliffe College host MCC in rearranged fixture

The MCC ran out winners by 79 runs in what proved an excellent work out for Ratcliffe ahead of a shortened season

The impact of Covid-19 is still being felt in schools cricket. This traditional MCC fixture v Ratcliffe College had already been postponed once and despite being played in the middle of June, was the first match for the school 1st XI. A good-looking pitch cut on pristine square proved a real treat for the hosts and the visiting team.

MCC won the toss and decided to bat first under cloudy skies in this time game. Ratcliffe captain Aled King took an early wicket before the MCC batsmen benefited from some understandably rusty deliveries from the new ball bowlers. It took a few overs for King and Ashford to settle in to a line length but once they did, batting became more of a challenge with the edge of the bat threatened on regular occasions.

37 for 1 swiftly became 41 for 3 with the tall Ashford picking up a couple of LBWs. Boyed by this success, Ratcliffe settled into the game and soon had the MCC in further trouble, reducing them to 70 for 5. 

^{Player of the match Aled King}

The introduction of spin provided some respite for the Club, who made who took advantage of some aggressive field placings and began to find the boundary with increasing regularity. Former Derbyshire 2nd XI batsman James Cokayne used all of his experience to craft a fine innings of 114, gluing the innings together in the process. The MCC eventually declaring on 217 for 7.

It was a sporting declaration from MCC skipper James Hawley, leaving the college plenty of time to chase down the total. However, the lack of match practice returned to haunt the college with the bat and they were soon undone by some superb fast bowling from 6 feet 6 inches tall seamer David Vardy, who hit the stumps three times in a hostile opening spell.

The college rallied, with skipper Aled King making a breezy 25 from just 13 deliveries. His cameo inspired a longer onslaught from teammate Cameron Mulvihill made a pugnacious 44 from 24 deliveries. At 132 for 6, with just 85 required, the rate of scoring was enough to force the MCC skipper to bring back his tall opening bowler Vardy and he delivered once again, clean-bowling another two of the lower-order to finish with fine figures of 5 for10. 

The MCC eventually run out winners by 79 runs in what proved an excellent work out for Ratcliffe ahead of a shortened season. The college player of the match was awarded to skipper Aled King for his all-round performance, leadership and overarching desire to compete throughout the fixture.

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