Posted by Tony Hutton
After a long break in their truncated season due to exams Leeds/Bradford MCCU returned to action at Weetwood on Thursday 6th June with a friendly match against MCC. This traditional annual fixture always brings along a few surprises in the visiting team and so it was this year with a variety of MCC players from near and far.
Those from close to home included a bevy of players from the New Farnley club such as Simon Lambert, Andrew Brewster and Luke Jarvis. From further afield came three Suffolk Minor Counties players in the shape of skipper Tom Rash, Chris Swallow and former Leeds/Bradford old boy Ollie Bocking.
Rob Peyton, the wicket keeper, is from South Northumberland cricket club and has played Minor Counties for Northumberland. Another keeper in the squad was Jonty Jenner, from Jersey, who has played second eleven cricket for Sussex.
Usman Arshad, originally from Bradford, had quite a long spell with Durham as well as seeing Minor Counties action with Northumberland and Lincolnshire, but without a doubt the star attraction was a guest player with quite a pedigree. Nick Malolo was originally from Australia, but with Italian parents, and is currently playing league cricket in the Sunderland area. He will soon be on international duty with Italy in a tournament which starts in a few weeks time.
After Swallow and Jenner had been dismissed with the total on 53-2 enter Malolo. Initially he played second fiddle to Simon Lambert who scored an excellent 50 before being run out. Malolo then took over and dominated the middle part of the MCC innings with a fine knock of 92, playing on when a century seemed certain. Atkins, from nearer to home in Steeton, then made 49, Arshad 45 and skipper Rash 45 to take the visitors beyond the 300 mark in their 50 overs. The final score being 314-7.
This was fine entertainment for the handful of spectators against a very varied University attack, with as many as five spinners employed after the opening burst from Fallows and Holling. Some of them looked a bit rusty after the long lay off but full marks to the MCC side for an excellent all round batting performance.
The University reply promised much with the season's top batsman, Ollie Batchelor, who as well as scoring runs for York cricket club made a recent appearance for Yorkshire second eleven. However just as he was getting into his stride he was bowled by former team mate Bocking for 21. Ashraf and Shafiq had looked in good form and took the score to 85, before the appearance of veteran left arm spinner Luke Jarvis had Shafiq caught for 37. Soon after this, the rain which had threatened earlier really came down in earnest and the absolute downpour meant that the game was abandoned as a draw.
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