Online Reporter
THE Marylebone Cricket Club captain Will Smale says leading the club on the tour of Zimbabwe, their first in about 60 years, was an incredible honour.
The Glamorgan star captained MCC on the historic trip which was another demonstration of the good relations which now exist between Zimbabwe Cricket and their English counterparts after years of a frosty relationship.
The Chevrons toured England, for the first time in more than two decades, in May this year.
“Playing for MCC on their tour of Zimbabwe was an incredible honour,” said Smale.
“Representing a Club with the history that the MCC possesses is incredible, and the opportunity to return to Zimbabwe after a 60-year absence gave a huge opportunity to showcase our cricket and build connections in local communities through the Spirit of Cricket.
“Playing against first-class sides, Zimbabwe A and their Academy, challenged us from a cricket perspective and gave many of our boys a fantastic opportunity to go up against some of the best young talent Zimbabwe had to offer.
“For me personally, representing MCC abroad is amazing and to have the privilege of leading the side on an overseas tour is something I’m incredibly grateful for and very proud of.
“Not only was this tour an incredible experience on the field, but also the off-field moments shared between the group and incredible activities that came with the trip made it hugely enjoyable all round.”
The tour included a first-class match against Zimbabwe A – the first time in six years that MCC has played a first-class fixture.
The trip began at the Kwekwe Sports Club where MCC faced the Mid West Rhinos, one of the six domestic teams which make up the first-class structure in Zimbabwe.
Captained by former MCC Young Cricketer Ben Curran, the Rhinos made 134 for 7 in the first of two T20 matches, with MCC making the target with only a ball to spare – Billy Mead (41) and Essex’s Simon Fernandes (33) impressing with the bat.
MCC batted first in the second game, with Darren Ironside hitting an unbeaten 64 in a total of 127 for 7, but the Rhinos sealed revenge with a four-wicket victory.
The following day’s 50-over match between the two sides was unfortunately abandoned without a result possible, before MCC moved on to Harare to meet Zimbabwe A in a three-day match at the Old Hararians Sports Club.
This would be MCC’s first first-class fixture since 2019. The hosts fielded a team that featured nine Zimbabwe internationals. Zimbabwe A won the toss and batted first batted first and were bowled out for 192 by MCC, Michael Frost the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27, along with Matt Wareing, Mo Rizvi, and Scotland seamer Jasper Davidson claiming two wickets apiece.
In reply, Alistair Frost (78), Fernandes (71) and Michael Frost (70) made half-centuries, as well as Davidson making an unbeaten 41, in a total of 298. Tinotenda Maposa, a full Zimbabwe international, took 5 for 37.
The match ended in a draw as Zimbabwe made 326 for 8 in their second innings, with Antum Naqvi making 108, and Rizvi taking another three wickets with his leg-spin.
The following matches were all white-ball affairs taking place at Takashinga CC, with MCC defeating Zimbabwe Academy in a T10 match, before losing out to the same opposition in a T20 match. — Sports Reporter/MCC
