LONDON, England CMC – Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul shone with a small cameo while West Indies batting legend Brian Lara also sparkled, albeit briefly, as the MCC beat the Rest of the World XI by seven wickets in the Lord’s Bicentenary game here yesterday.
Opting to bat first, the Rest of the World XI mustered 293 for seven off their 50 overs, on the backs of a superb 132 from India left-hander Yuvraj Singh.
However, Australia’s Aaron Finch punched an imperious unbeaten 181 to propel the MCC to their target, with 25 balls remaining at the historic ground in north-west London.
Chanderpaul carved out an entertaining unbeaten 37 off 47 balls with three fours and a six, while Lara got 23 from 38 deliveries, and found enough time to remind fans of his once immense powers with three glittering boundaries.
India batting great Sachin Tendulkar showed he had lost little since his retirement last November with 44 from 45 balls, with seven fours.
It was Finch though who took centre stage, smashing 23 fours and six sixes, in an innings lasting 145 balls. Along the way, he posted 107 for the first wicket with Tendulkar, 67 for the second wicket with Lara and another 122 for the fourth wicket with Chanderpaul.
Lara showed glimpses of his old self, punching Barbados and West Indies speedster Tino Best to the square boundary for his first four, before disdainfully depositing Yuvraj’s long hop to the ropes at mid-wicket for his second.
The left-hander then delivered one of his trademark booming cover drives for four off medium pacer Paul Collingwood but then fell two balls later in the over, edging behind to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist as he tried to cut one too close to him.
Another retired India batting star, Rahul Dravid, suffered the ignominy of a first ball duck when he was bowled by Collingwood but Chanderpaul averted the hat-trick, and proceeded to help set the MCC on course for victory.
Best finished with none for 63 from eight overs.
The game was to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lord’s cricket ground.
