MCC tour to Italy
Our tour (23 September - 3 October) started in Grosseto, north of Rome. Our first match was against Maremma CC. The MCC batted first and amassed 275 - 2 from 40 overs and then bowling them out for 114, Wicketkeeper Kurukulasuriya also looked a good batter.
Our next two matches were at the same ground against Italy Under 23s. Italy won the toss and batted, scoring 172-5 in their allotted 50 overs their innings held together by Kariyawasan with an unbeaten 68. He then proceeded to get us into all sorts of trouble with his leg spinners, taking 4-27. We managed to scrape home 9 wickets down in the 49th over. The second game was a very different affair. MCC won the toss and batted, compiling a massive 309, the foundations laid by an opening partnership of 122 between Chinmay Gupte (107) and Matt Eyles (55). At 20-4, Italy were never getting back into the game.
On to Rome and Gallicano CC. MCC managed to bowl out Gallicano for 131. Andy Steward 4- 34 and Jonathan Newell 4-48. Clive Offer kept wicket with a great performance taking 3 catches and a stumping. We knocked them off, 2 wickets down.
Our day off was an extravaganza of sight-seeing before moving on to our final ground, Capannelle CC, which is situated in the middle of Rome's main racehorse venue. The MCC amassed 244 from 50 overs with contributions from Chinmay Gupte (57), myself (42*) and Nick Archer (30*). Jim Love compiled an innings of 42 and we bowled the opposition out for 177 with Jim's off-spin picking up 4-29 from 9 overs.
It was at this stage we got down to the business end of the tour - two back to back 1-dayers against the full Italian side. We lost the toss and fielded first. Italy got off to a steady start but things livened up with a spate of boundaries from Jayasena (69) who looked a quality player. Joe Scuderi, the ex-Lancashire County cricketer, was trapped LBW to Will Hodson for just 11 but a partnership of 65 from Ketipe (49) and Alaud (35) for the 5th wicket put Italy back on track. MCC limited Italy to 241-7 from 50 overs. The MCC reply started well until the in-form Matt Eyles was run out in a ridiculous mix-up. Clive Offer played well for his 46 and Jim Love (34). At 8 an over I was stumped for 37 off the promising off-spinner, Scarponi (who took 4-44). We fell away and ended up 58 runs short.
Our final full day of the trip gave MCC an opportunity to level this two match series. Batting first in a shortened game the MCC compiled a massive 287 from 45 overs. Matt Eyles scored a classy 109 and Jim Love a forceful 76. Italy were behind the clock from the beginning and always under pressure. Jayasena and Giordano both scored good half centuries but Jim Love's off-spin accounted for 4 Italian wickets and they ended up being bowled out 37 runs short. It was a satisfying way to end what had been an extremely enjoyable tour both on and off the field.
Finally, where now for Italian cricket? Who's to say just how far they could go with experience and time. The will and enthusiasm is there and that counts for a great deal.