AN UPDATE FROM MUIR COLLEGE - CRICKET LEINSTER EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

Myself and Chris Barry flew from Dublin airport on January 6^th beginning our trip to South Africa and Muir College in the Eastern Cape. Due to some unfortunate engine issues we ended up spending a day in Istanbul with some family friends however the rest of the journey went smoothly and we arrived at the Union High School Annual Senior Cricket Festival a day and a match late, although with the team’s comfortable victory scoring over 250 runs and skittling the opposition for less than thirty, I doubt we were massively missed.

The first match began the morning we arrived, a T20 fixture against Cradock as soon as I woke up however I knew that it was not going to be like any match I’d ever played and as I stepped outside the hostel into what seemed to me a furnace like heat I knew that the 20 overs were going to be like nothing I’d ever experienced. The Muir College captain Bulunko won the toss and decided to bowl where I came on first change and picked up a wicket for 18 runs. Our tidy bowling meant we restricted them to 104-7 off 20 overs. Due to our depth in the side Chris sat out of the fielding in order to get a good chance to bat however we only lost a couple of wickets and the match ended up as another relatively comfortable win for Muir College with us chasing it down in 18 overs.  

The following day was a rest day and apart from a quick net session was quiet however, we did get to go on a safari trip around Graff Reinet that was an incredible experience. We did get to watch the ‘All Star’ match of the tournament where the best players from all the different teams would come together for one high standard game.

The final day would be another test for myself and Chris our match against Edgemead when once we elected to bowl and although a quick start for the opposition, once I got the breakthrough wicket, with a nice catch from Chris, they ended up on 102-9. This score we chased down in 11 overs for the loss of no wickets.

After a long trip to Graff Reinet and a successful tournament I can safely say myself and Chris slept well when we got back to the school in Uitenhage.

Our next match the following week would be the first proper test for both of us and our first loss of the trip. Graham College in Grahamstown we were warned were not only have a strong cricket school, but also a competitive one and even in the training throughout the week tension could be seen most definitely in the team. The 50 over match took place on Saturday, January 18th and as the guys say it was a scorcher with the temperature getting up to 35 degrees and absolutely no wind or cloud cover to be seen. I opened the bowling from the bottom end and we got off to a flying start with me getting their provincial batter out for just seven in the third over. However, after a couple missed opportunities we slowed down and although a couple wickets kept falling and I picked up another one in a later spell, they ended up on a mammoth 420 runs. Injuries ran rampant in the team and we had dislocated shoulders and broken fingers. The batting innings went much like the bowling, off to a strong start but dying out after 70 odd runs, with us ending up being all out for 150 runs.

The following weekend would see us travelling four hours across to the Western Cape to the town of George where we would face York school on the Saturday. We arrived late on the Friday to a hostel that seemed more like a hotel than a school with a well-tended garden and an extensive games room which me and the lads definitely made use of. It was an early start the next day and all signs pointed to another absolute oven of a day however there was a very pleasant breeze blowing creating the perfect day for cricket. Once again our captain Bulunko won the toss and this time we elected to bat on a pitch that showed all signs of being quite challenging, though this was a very good decision as it deteriorated as the day continued. The team went off to a flying start and although one early wicket we ended up 56 for just one. However the mother of all collapses was incoming and at 90 for 6 I entered the crease just an over before drinks. I batted well getting my eye in quickly despite a nice shiner on my shoulder from another pace bowler who I’d later get out and repay the favour. In the end I scored 43 off 44 balls and the team ended up on 157 runs all out. This didn’t stop the team from going out to bowl with the intensity we started the previous match with and just in the first over I made the breakthrough with another pair of wickets coming from Sachin at the other end. This continued through the innings with Sachin even getting his second ‘five for’ of the season getting them all out for just under 100.

The next match however was against the school’s rivals with Brandwag and it was an authoritative victory for us. Another five wicket haul was picked up by Cody September with a very neat spell. In the end, their last wicket fell in the 12th over leaving them in less than 40 runs which we chased in five overs just for the loss of just one wicket.

Our next match this weekend is against Alex once again away however outside of cricket the school and especially Mr. Gouws and his wife Lynn have been nothing but welcoming and have ensured that our stay so far has been very enjoyable and comfortable with me and Mr Gouws’ darts games having some legendary moments. I’d also have to mention Mr Van Wyk for his tolerance with me despite our slightly mismatched squash abilities. Myself and Chris are making full use of our time so far helping out around the school and having a great time with the boys in the hostel and team. It seems crazy that we’re already halfway through our stay but I have the say all the new experiences and just being in a different part of the world has made sure that the time is flying by. I have no doubt the second part of our trip will be just as illustrious on the field for myself and Chris, but also very enjoyable off it as well.

We are grateful of course to Cricket Leinster who have arranged everything for us here during our stay in Uitenhage.

Harry Irving (Clontarf CC)

Chris Barry (Clontarf CC)