Dexter and Eckersley represent MCC
Fri 8 Jan 2016
Leicestershire duo Neil Dexter and Ned Eckersley have been in action for the MCC on their successful tour to South Africa.
MCC started with an eight-wicket defeat to Northwood Crusaders CC in a 40-over game before recording four consecutive victories with a number of fine performances.
Dexter and former Middlesex teammate Owais Shah shared an opening partnership of 57 in the first game but a fine unbroken stand of 173 between Alexander and Muthusamy guided the hosts to success.
Leicestershire's new signing was the star performer during a thrilling four-run win against a KwaZulu-Natal XI. Dexter made 80 off just 72 deliveries and MCC defended their total of 228-8 on the same Kingsmead pitch that England beat South Africa.
A two-day match against a Western Province Cricket Association Academy XI was won in comprehensive fashion by MCC. The team dismissed their opponents for just 95 in the first innings and went on to record a nine-wicket win. Worcestershire’s Charlie Morris took four wickets in each innings while Eckersley scored 11 in MCC’s first knock.
The next game saw a win for MCC by a nine-run margin on the Duckworth-Lewis method after a rain-affected affair.
Worcestershire’s Brett D’Oliveira claimed 4-31 for St Augustine as MCC were restricted to 160-8, Eckersley scoring 12 in an innings that had a top-score of 31. In reply, the home side were 81-4 from 24.5 overs when rain arrived and MCC were narrowly ahead at this stage.
Shah was outstanding in what turned out to be the final match of the tour, a 36-run success against a Western Province Cricket Association Academy XI on the test match wicket that saw South Africa and England play out a draw at Newlands, Cape Town. The former England international scored 85 and then claimed 3-25 from ten economical overs of off-spin.
MCC were due to play a Western Province XI today but the match was postponed due to injury and illness within the MCC travelling party.
