The annual MCCU T20 competition, for which there is a major prize for the winners in an overseas trip for the international universities Red Bull Trophy, got underway at Weetwood, Leeds on Thursday 3rd May. This was the first of two triangular competitions between Cardiff, Durham and Leeds Bradford, with the two top teams going through to finals day at Loughborough on 15th June.
The other round presumably to be played shortly will be between Oxford, Cambridge and Loughborough.
Today's first match saw Cardiff and Leeds/Bradford lock horns yet again. Cardiff's innings was given momentum again by Douthwaite coming in at number four after the loss of two early wickets. His fine 54 from just 32 balls, included four fours and three sixes. He was ably assisted by Evans whose 33 came off 22 balls and enabled Cardiff to post a respectable total of 171-7 in their twenty overs.
Leeds/Bradford in reply were never really in the hunt. Their innings centred on Batchelor, whose big hitting 63 contained two fours and four sixes but he was given little support other than 21 from Maciver. Two run outs near the end added to the confusion and the home side were well beaten coming up 24 runs short.
The second game was between Durham and Cardiff and provided something of a surprise as the men from Wales rather collapsed to a very much under par score of 126-8. This was due to some accurate bowling from Subramanyan who took 3-15 from his four overs with good support from Sohal four overs for only eighteen runs and Russell three overs for just eleven runs.
In reply Durham had no problem in knocking off the runs in 17 overs thanks to a captain's innings from Will Fraine, who plays for Honley in the Huddersfield League. He hit a splendid 72 with seven fours and three sixes to see his side home with ease. Sohal again impressed at the end with a good 22 not out.
The final game was between Leeds/Bradford and Durham and again provided something of a surprise. A fine opening spell from Harry Stow, who plays league cricket for Harrogate, really decided the game as he dismissed danger man Fraine for 10 then two of the other top five men, Cooke and Sohal for 2 and 0. Durham by then were 18-4 as left arm spinner Haynes had dismissed Macdonell, the number three, for 0. There was some resistance from Graves and Shoff, but Durham were all out for a miserable 110 in 19 overs.
Leeds/Bradford took their time in getting the runs but 33 from Andersson and 27 not out from the ever reliable Maciver saw them home with four overs to spare. Spinner Sohal was again the pick of the bowlers with 2-17 from his four overs. So a win by six wickets for Leeds/Bradford meant that each side had one one match during the day and there were no obvious winners or runners up.
After some complicated run rate calculations by the scorers it was announced that Cardiff and Leeds/Bradford would go through to finals day, with Durham missing out. Most of the spectators were oblivious to this, but had at least watched T20 cricket in pleasant surroundings with no loud music, no drunks and an atmosphere almost bordering on peace and tranquility.
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