Worcestershire paceman Charlie Morris held his nerve in the final over of a thrilling match to take MCC to their first win of its tour of South Africa against the Kwazulu Natal X1 in Durban.
With Kwazulu Natal requiring just five runs off the final three balls of the game, Morris bowled three dot balls to earn MCC a remarkable four run victory.
The win was achieved on the same pitch as England defeated South Africa in the opening Test.
For most of the Kwazulu Natal innings it appeared that MCC’s first innings total of 228-8 in 45 overs would not be enough.
But two pieces of inspiration, prior to Morris’ outstanding last over work, turned the game on its head.
The first came from Chris Peploe who produced a brilliantly athletic piece of fielding off his own bowling to run out the extremely dangerous Muthusamy, the Crusaders batsman whose undefeated 77 helped defeat the MCC in their opening match of the tour.
With only one stump to hit Peploe swooped to pick the ball up at short mid-wicket and threw the stumps down at the bowlers end.
Then Kent’s Matthew Hunn took wickets with consecutive balls in the 39th over.
MCC’s total was based around an excellent fourth wicket partnership between Neil Dexter and John Simpson.
The pair batted with power and dexterity to add 136 in 22 overs after their side had been 49-3 at one stage.
Dexter was the more aggressive of the two, hitting seven boundaries and three sixes in his 72 ball innings of 80.
Simpson was more watchful, taking 61 balls to bring up his half century.
MCC then lost five wickets for seven runs in four overs in slumping from 185-3 to 192-8.
But Peploe and Morris (11 not out from 22 balls) adding 36 crucial runs in the final eight overs of the innings.
