International friendly match (15 overs):
Hungary XI vs MC3 (UK)
Sunday 25th May 2008 at RAFC, Budapest XVI

Match report

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Hungary XI
Robin Sperling c Green b Humphreys
1
Istvan Toth + spacer b Yates 0
Benjamin Lebor * lbw
b Humphreys
 0
Kristof Noll-Batek spacer
b Humphreys
4
Aron Szentpeteri c Wigg
b Humphreys
 1
Attila Vakan retired spacer 33
Janos Matyasfalvi c Wigg
b Geiringer
4
Steve Anthony *+
c Rees
b Parbury spacer
9
David Berczeli not out
spacer
 15
Zoltan Mago not out spacer
0
Brigi Hotea spacer spacer
dnb
Extras 5nb 11w 2b 0lb
spacer
18
Total
15 overs
for 7
85
MC3
Oliver Jones c &
b Lebor
29
Tom Masters spacer
b Mago
0
David Wigg retired
spacer
32
Richard Rudman c Anthony 
b Lebor
4
Graham Humphreys
spacer
b Vakan
5
Paddy Yates not out spacer
4
Thomas Green +
not out
 spacer 9
Andy Parbury
spacer
spacer
dnb
Felix Geiringer *
spacer
spacer
dnb
Jonathan Knight
spacer
spacer
dnb
Lee Dransfield
spacer
spacer dnb
Extras 0nb 0w 2b 2lb
4
Total 10 overs
for 4
87
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Paddy Yates
3
0
9
1
Graham Humphreys
3
0
11
4
David Wigg
3
0
10
0
Felix Geiringer
2
0
16
1
Lee Dransfield
1
0
9
0
Andy Parbury
2
0
27
1
Thomas Green
1
0
1
0
Fall of wicket
3
3
10
12
13
26
50
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Kristof Noll-Batek
2
0
26
0
Zoltan Mago
3
0
15
1
Attila Vakan
2
0
21
1
Benjamin Lebor
3
0
21
2
Fall of wicket
14
68
74
74

MC3 won by 6 wickets

Once the first five wickets had fallen for just 13 runs, the Hungary XI looked down and out, but a fine recovery led by 17-year-old Comenius student Attila Vakan saw the team to a more respectable total of 85 off their allotted 15 overs. Graham Humphreys showed his class as a bowler to take 4 wickets, while David Wigg continued his fine form with the ball (and later with the bat) to restrict the run-rate. Vakan hit five boundaries in his innings, which included productive partnerships with Steve Anthony and fellow student David Berczeli, who threw his bat around aiming for the tennis courts!

In their reply MC3 never really looked troubled, with Oliver Jones and Wigg effortlessly either smiting the ball out of the ground or stroking the ball around to make the fielders toil in the hot sunshine. Once Wigg had retired (having not been out all weekend in his three innings) Hungary did get some reward (and some hope) by taking 3 wickets in 9 balls (including two for the Benjamin Lebor / Steve Anthony partnership), but it was too little too late. The damage had already been done with the bat.

After a couple of less serious matches (both of which Hungary won), this was a fine way to end the weekend for the first touring team of the summer, MC3. Their Saturday defeat to a stronger and more experienced Hungary XI had given them the desire to win this one and so it proved.

Notable highlights of the two 12-over 8-a-side matches were the bowling of the three Comenius girls (Brigi, Claudia and Emese) which aroused admiration from everyone including the English squad and Hungary captain Gabor Torok, the one-handed catch by Zoltan Mago of a screaming drive, and the big-hitting of Steve Anthony. Although the second match in particular was a one-sided affair due to the antics of the English team, some much-needed match practice was on offer.

This group of Hungary players can only learn from the experience of watching and playing against some fine players. There will be many more chances for them to shine in this and in coming years.

Man of the match: Attila Vakan