CRICKET fans in Thurrock were entertained by a match featuring the MCC in the past week.

Local cricket buffs will know that Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club was formerly the governing body of cricket and still holds considerable global influence.

On Wednesday, 18 August Belhus CC Midweek XI played the Marylebone CC (MCC) at North Stifford. Belhus CC club officials and volunteers pulled out all the stops for this prestigious biennial fixture at North Stifford and the visitors were treated to the very best of Thurrock hospitality.

MCC batted first, scoring 210 runs, all out. MCC's opening batting partnership of Tom Roy (78 runs) and Paul Humphries (21 runs) made a swift early run total of 99 runs for the visitors. However, some fine bowling from Belhus CC slowed down the run rate with Sahan Nanayakkara taking five wickets '5for', two wickets apiece for Dan Norris and Teddy Waters and all-rounder, Shane Barwick.

Indeed, Shane Barwick capped off a great individual display for Belhus when he scored a very respectable 57 runs in the run chase but MCC's attack, led by Paul Humphries (4 wickets) and Connor Whetstone (3 wickets), meant that Belhus could only score 162 runs before all the home wickets were gone after 35 overs.

The Marylebone CC (MCC) have been very supportive of South Essex District youth cricket and Belhus CC itself over the years and long may those relationships continue.