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MCC Tour to Thailand

Posted: 5 December 2018

MCC COMPLETED THEIR TOURING PROGRAMME FOR 2018 DURING NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER WHEN A 13-MAN SQUAD OF PLAYING MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE UNITED KINGDOM TOURED THAILAND.

The twelve-day trip was the last of four overseas tours which have taken place this year, following trips to Brazil and Chile, Sweden and Kenya.

Thailand XI v MCC - Terdthai Cricket Ground (50 over match)

MCC kicked off their tour with a closely fought game against a Thailand XI in Bangkok, a side that encompassed some promising native Thai talent.

MCC batted first and after being reduced to 52 for 6, captain Chris Holt (47) and Chris James (37) steadied the ship to guide MCC to a total of 184 from 50 overs.

Thailand started their innings well, with the MCC seamers battling the heat in unfamiliar conditions. The hosts reached 80 for 2 from 12 overs, but an excellent second spell from Chris Glasper, including two wickets in two balls, helped MCC bowl Thailand out for 142, sealing a 42 run victory. Glasper finished the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 for 31 from eight overs.

Thailand Invitational XI v MCC - Terdthai Cricket Ground (20 and 10 over matches)

MCC faced a Thailand Invitational XI, firstly in a T20 match, and later on in the day, the T10 format. The hosts made 131 for 4 after winning the toss, Dan Brown taking two wickets for MCC. In reply, Ryan Driver (31) and Greg Holmes (16) made good use of the Powerplay. Brown then showed his all-round capabilities with a powerful 33, before skipper Holt blasted three sixes in a quickfire 32 as MCC won by six wickets with two balls to spare.

Thailand batted first in the T10 match and were indebted to the left-handed Tam Wamchama as his commanding 33 helped them to 90 for 6. Paul Rees was the pick of the bowling for MCC, taking 1 for 12 off his two overs. In response, MCC were ruthless, led by Holt who smashed 62 from only 26 balls, including three sixes. He shared an opening stand of 88 with Rees (16 not out) as MCC won by nine wickets in the eighth over.

Thailand XI v MCC - Terdthai Cricket Ground (two T20 matches)

The final day of cricket in Bangkok saw MCC play Thailand in two T20 matches, and the tourists fell to their first defeat of the trip, losing to their hosts by four wickets with five overs to spare.

Ross Clarke carried his bat through the MCC innings as they made 100 for 7, but despite the bowling of Rees (2 for 11) and Richard Kaufman (2 for 34), Thailand sealed a comfortable win.

In the second match, MCC elected to bowl first and Glasper’s economical spell in the Powerplay of 1 for 15 from four overs helped set up the innings with the ball for the spin of Rees (4 for 23) and Kaufman (2 for 14), as Thailand were restricted to 102 for 9.

In response, MCC lost wickets at regular intervals but Luke Smith (33) underpinned the reply, before a partnership of 21 between Driver (12 not out) and Dan Brown (9 not out) guided MCC to a four-wicket victory in the final over.

Chiang Mai XI v MCC - Prem Tinsulanonda International School (50 over match)

MCC moved to the north of the country to continue their trip, and faced a Chiang Mai XI at the Prem Tinsulanonda International School in a 50 over match. Batting first, MCC made 245 for 8 with an unbeaten 60 from Brown, and 43 from Kaufman.

MCC were devastating with the ball, dismissing Chiang Mai for only 46. Glasper and Driver did the damage, taking the ten wickets between them to seal victory for MCC in the 21st over.

Chiang Mai Lanna Cricket Club v MCC - Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club (20 over match)

The final day’s cricket of the tour was a coaching day, where MCC could educate local players technically and tactically about how to play the game. It was hosted at Gymkhana Cricket Club Chiang Mai, which is the oldest sporting club in Thailand.

A twelve over match was organised, with seven Thai cricketers and four MCC players in each team, forming MCC A and B sides, and the B team won an exciting clash chasing victory from the final ball.

MCC also incorporated some of the local players into their team for the final match of the tour, a T20 against Chiang Mai Lanna Cricket Club. MCC batted first and made 157 for 7, with the hard hitting of James Brown (55 not out) and Dan Brown (50) boosting the total.

In reply, Chiang Mai were restricted to 141 for 9, with MCC sealing victory by 16 runs. Local player Yot starred for MCC, taking 4 for 28. The day, and indeed trip, was a fantastic experience for the MCC Members involved, passing valuable knowledge on to local cricketers from Thailand.

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