Caption: Melbourne Cricket Club batsman making a run against Nakavu Cricket Club.
By Ashtosh Singh
The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) have had their first hit-out after touching down on Fiji soil as the 12-man squad faced Nakavu Cricket Club in a friendly 40-over encounter at the Central College grounds in Lautoka yesterday.
The MCC won the toss and elected to bat first, and it was with much excitement that Driv Vilikesh from Nakavu removed MCC opener Michael McClean, clean bowling him on the first ball of the tour.
However the experienced MCC outfit showed why they play at first- and second-grade level in Australian domestic cricket, proving all class with the bat. Notable contributors were Peter Petricola (122 not out), Matt Brown (84) and Will Ryan (69).
After their designated 40 overs, the MCC stood at an imposing 7-347. For Nakavu, Sekove Ravoka, who represented the East-Asia Pacific side in the Asia-Pacific Rising Stars Trophy in Brisbane last week, was the star with the ball, taking 4-62 off his eight over’s.
The mammoth target proved an insurmountable feat for the Fijian club side, falling 232 runs short of their target after being dismissed for 115 runs in 25 overs. Top scorer for Nakavu with the bat was Driv Vilikesh, who made 38.
Jack Paynter and Darcy Daly contributed equally for the tourists with the ball, with figures of 3-18 and 3-16 respectively.
Meanwhile, The MCC is embarking on a development tour of Fiji as a part of their 175th anniversary celebrations.