MCC beat Canada A
20 September 2005
Canada A lost to the visiting MCC at King City in the 50-overs a side match yeterday, thanks to some lusty blows by the MCC lower order.
Belaji Rao top-scored for the Canadian side, making a good 76 before falling run out when he slowly drifted towards the wicket keepers end for a cosy single and was out to a direct throw from the long-on boundary. He left at 130-4 in the 27th over. Canada never capitalized on this good start, and ended 20-30 runs short of what was possibly a winning score.
The pitch proved responsive to some turn from an early stage and this prompted Canada to stick with their extensive array of spinners through the final stages of the game. Perhaps the game plan at the last drinks interval (MCC 140-3 off 38 overs) should have considered bringing back some medium pace as the first three such bowlers had performed quite well. The spin-attack possibly still looked viable for success when 3 wickets fell between 176 and 188 but Ben Claypole (11 not out) and Richard Illingworth (8 not out) made some solid strikes on the ball which saw their side to success.
This match saw the first appearance in Canadian colours of Jimmy Adams, the former West Indian test captain. He made 31 but was less successful in a brief spell of bowling towards the end.
Amongst the enthusiastic spectators at for the Monday game at King City were members of the Shaw Festival Theatre cricket team and their supporters.
Canada A 207-7 (50 overs; Belaji Rao 76)
MCC 208-7 (48 overs; Carl Rogers 40)
(Eddie Norfolk)