Tom Allin - Concerned about the price of Heineken.

1 March 2010

MCC made it three wins in three games with a great all round display to comprehensively defeat the UAE. Bowling first in 30+ heat was not ideal…however at 50 for 5 not many were complaining! Balcombe again led the way, taking four of the wickets. UAE fought back and put on 100 for the next wicket and closed the innings at 195. Kadeer and Snell dominated from the start and set the foundation for a seven-wicket victory. Kadeer top scored with a 70.

A night the Emirates Palace was to follow…very different to what we had experienced so far, not the average student night, especially at £12 per bottle of Heineken!

By all reports in the morning the night was a success, although the 10am leave for Dubai was a problem for some! A short bus trip took us to the centre via the world’s tallest building and the only seven star hotel on the planet, pretty steady to be fair. The rest of the day was our own to roam around the city.

The next game was another day/nighter against a Sharjah XI. We somehow lost the toss again in the searing heat of 36 degrees. We ended up bowling first on what was the flattest deck ever seen. It was very demoralising as we pretty much gave them throw downs for a few hours. However the opposition did not bat well and we executed our skills and rolled them over for 200. In reply, we got complacent and never really got going. MCC were 140-8 with Gidman at the crease on 30*, and then down to the final over needing six. Needing one to win with one wicket left off the final ball, Giddo hit it for four, finishing on 70*.

Jonny Wightman AKA 'Animal' Friday was a day off, whilst a few had coaching, the rest relaxed on the roof top pool, before heading to the Atlantis Waterpark which is definitely a must-visit! The Water Death slide was too much for some, even after watching a little ten-year-old fly down, Balcs and Kads bottled it! The next day we played UAE U-21s in a 40 over game, which we won again fairly comfortably with small contributions from everyone…MCC now five from five.
The final night in Dubai was spent watching the England game and celebrating Snelly’s birthday. Whilst some were taking it easy with a 6am leave in the morning for Oman; Jonny Wightman (Ex-Leeds/Bradford MCCU) yet again led the way like a true northerner does…living up to his quickly-earned nickname ‘Animal’!

Muscles