A squad of MCC Women’s players recently arrived home from a successful overseas tour of Dresden, Germany. They participated in a T20 tournament alongside Austria and Germany's national sides as well as a DCB (Deutschland Cricket Bund) Development XI.
The squad began the tour by taking a boat down the River Elbe on a beautiful blue-sky day to arrive at the ground in Dresden, where all the matches on the tour took place. A short ceremony was held before the first match, including a speech from Saxony's State Minister of the Interior, Armin Schuster.
With Austria their first opponents, MCC posted 121 from their 20 overs thanks to an excellent 52 not out from birthday-girl Alice Heap. The bowlers excelled in defending the target, with Rachel Bellamy, Izzy Gurney and Anna Healey taking three wickets apiece to help seal a 56-run win.
In a thrilling low-scoring match against Germany on the second day, Gurney was the star, taking 4 for 12 to help restrict the hosts to 70 after MCC were dismissed for 85.
As Austria defeated the German Development team in the afternoon, MCC were please to hold a series of coaching sessions for local women and children before enjoying a barbecue held for all of the participating teams.
Germany defeated Austria on the third morning before further training sessions with players from Germany's Development squad. In the afternoon, two sides - MCC Red and MCC Yellow – comprised of MCC players, and those from the DCB Development team, played an enjoyable match which ended in victory for the Yellow team in the final over.
On the final day, MCC faced Germany for the second time, this time losing by 20 runs as the hosts' opener, and the player of the tournament, Christina Gough struck an unbeaten 50 as Germany reached 126. In reply, MCC fell short of their target despite accomplished knocks from both Meg Burton (35 not out) and Emma Elsom (34).
It was MCC’s first trip to Germany since 2017 when a men’s squad visited the country to help the squad prepare for some key upcoming fixtures.
The Club has already sent squads to both Belize and Austria earlier this year for men’s tours, whilst Greece in September and Kenya in November are next on the list for MCC.
The squad for the tour was: Sinead Goodden (Tour Manager), Hazel Lovegrove (Captain), Rachael Potter, Charlotte Bawden, Gabrielle Dunnage, Rachel Bellamy, Emma Elsom, Anna Healey, Felicity Bennett, Sybil Stacpoole, Isabelle Gurney, Alice Heap, Megan Burton, Emma Godman, Laura MacLeod (Umpire)
Results:
Thursday 10 August
MCC v Austria – MCC beat Austria by 56 runs
Friday 11 August
Germany v MCC – MCC beat Germany by 15 runs
Saturday 12 August
MCC Yellow v MCC Red (training match)
Sunday 13 August
Germany v MCC – Germany beat MCC by 20 runs