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The inaugural MCC tour to Finland in July was a great success. Downpour apart on the first morning, we were blessed with clear & warm weather throughout the trip resulting in the original tour agenda going almost entirely to plan.

Not only was the tour a success in playing terms, offering as it did numerous opportunities for players in Finland of differing stature to match themselves against such distinguished opposition, but in addition all the games were played with an excellent spirit, the FCA gained more exposure for the game in the Finnish national press with a “first-ever” 2-page full colour cricket article and coaching courses were held for juniors and naval cadets in both Helsinki & Turku.

The MCC played against 3 teams: a President’s XI’s, a Turku-invitational side and the Finnish national team. The MCC won the first game by a mere 10 runs. Chasing a score of 209 in 40 overs for victory, the President’s XI appeared to be cruising at 157/3 after 31 overs, but then crumbled under an escalating run rate with a combination of run outs and rash shots to leave them 10 short, the last over being a wicket maiden for Tom Glover of the MCC.

The MCC then won comfortably in Turku. Following James Samworth registering the only century of the tour with a delightful 121, the MCC went on to win the game by the small matter of 55 runs. The final match versus the Finnish National team saw the MCC find themselves under pressure after a top order collapse left them reeling at 71/6. However, Neil Burton and Douglas Green steadied the ship with a solid partnership of 98 to leave the Finnish National team a target of 183 to win from 50 overs. The Finnish team in turn found themselves in trouble as they struggled at 65/4, but thanks mainly to a glorious, chanceless innings of 71 n.o. from Timo Ilva off 126 balls and including 11 boundaries along with able support from Amrik Bhatia 43 n.o. guided Finland comfortably to their target with 5 wickets intact and 6 overs remaining.

The generous tour grant from MCC & ICC was most gratefully accepted, part of which was put to good use already before the MCC team’s arrival in renewing the matting wickets at the two grounds used for the tour. The remaining funds are intended to be put towards either of two firsts in Finnish cricket in 2006: a bowling machine or the first permanent cricket ground.

Needless to say, all funds towards grass roots development in Finland are most welcome. The tour itself along with the grant, provided the finishing touches to an excellent season of cricket and one which has cemented further the foundations for the healthy future of cricket in this country. Let us hope that this will not be the last MCC tour to Finland! (Andrew Armitage, FCA Chairman)