Dromedary beat MCC by 6 wickets in their match at the Oman Cricket Academy on March 1st, 2022.
After winning the toss, MCC elected to bat first and posted a total of 105/7 at the end of 20 overs and Dromedary CC chased the target down with 11 balls to spare. But more than events on the pitch, this game was about tradition and history. 24 travelling members from the golf society of the Marylebone Cricket Club – the custodians of the gentleman’s game, formed the playing squad for the MCC. All of them were above 60 years. The Dromedary team profiled similarly in terms of average age, and both sides included one lady in their starting 11.
The rules were also tweaked slightly in keeping with the occasion. A batsmen had to walk back after scoring 30 runs to keep the game fun and fair for everyone involved. Nevertheless, the stature of the names involved ensured a cricketing contest of genuine quality. To single out an individual, Sidath Wettimuny, who top scored for the MCC was the first Sri Lankan batsman to score a century at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. Paul Sheridan, the chairman of Dromedary said, “The purpose of our team is to simply get more people playing cricket. We generally play the Chairman’s XI but this time it is the MCC side. But speaking of the MCC, this is the golf society’s fifth tour here. All of them keep wanting to come back which makes the game more popular than ever before. Goes to show what a lovely place Oman is and how good the facilities over here are”.
A non-playing member of the MCC explained further. He said, “We have known Pankaj (Khimji) for a long time. He is an extremely generous man. (He) Generally hosts a lovely dinner for all of us at his place on our last night here and it is his enthusiasm and passion for the game that never fails to impress”.
“The facilities here (Oman Cricket Academy) are great too. We were at the indoor nets earlier and they are stunning. This stadium – since the last time we came, a World Cup has happened here, and it is easy to see why. The flood lights, press room, seating all compare well to many world-class ones around the world. Cricket in Oman is going places and it will be exciting to see what comes next”.
All in all, the first evening of March 2022 at the Oman Cricket Academy saw cricket in the Sultanate receive further exposure, with the event promising to be a precursor for further such occasions to come.