Some very competitive cricket was seen at Plymouth College when the College 1st XI played host to the prestigious MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) as part of their annual tour of Devon and Cornwall.
MCC won the toss and batted on a damp slow pitch. James Burke, who bowled for the first time this season (albeit ¾ pace), and captain, Sam Cload, opened the bowling with maidens. With good controlled-pace bowling, backed up by disciplined fielding, the MCC batsmen found it difficult to score runs freely and would have undoubtedly lost wickets if half chances had been taken. Ollie Mulberry made the breakthrough having Hughes caught by Price before Jake Libby bowled Hefferman.
Burke and Cload, the pick of the bowlers, returned just before and after lunch. Alex Hill bowled at the end of MCC’s innings, when Parker 56no and former Somerset player (now Cornwall player) Keith Parsons 34no were pushing the score on. A sporting declaration of 191-4 off 52 overs gave Plymouth College a chance.
In reply, James Burke and Jake Libby started off in positive fashion but the weather stopped them in their tracks when heavy rain arrived as forecast. With Plymouth Sound and Mount Edgcumbe no longer visible from the OPM suite balcony, the match was abandoned for the second year running after an early tea was taken.
