Report taken from Graz CC's website, written by Tim Johnson.

During a blisteringly hot weekend, Beechwood C.C., a Sunday side from Kent, England, began the business end of their first Austrian tour. Although the club has a significant membership, Beechwood decided to tour with an elite playing eleven that included many of the club's variably eccentric legends. The touring team comprised:

• Keith (Macca) Makin
• (Uncle) Tony Freeman
• Colin (Bobby) Robinson
• Stuart (Bossy) Boss
• Dean (Morton) Kelly
• Ashley (Woody) Woodward
• Ian (Macca) McCrea
• Prashant (Dodgy) Patel
• Chris (Sweetor) Savory
• Richard (Val) Valentine

The touring team were joined by Tim Johnson, an Old Beechwoodian, for the opening fixture against C.C. Velden 91, which Beechwood won. Good performances with the bat came from the top order, with Tony, Dean, Val and Tim all scoring runs. The star with the ball was leg-spinner Chris, with a fine spell of fast bowling from Val. A detailed match report will appear once we have the details from the scorebook.

And so the tourists were one-up with one to play as they took on Graz C.C.. Graz were missing Jan and Imran, their opening batsman, but were bolsted by the presence of Jim (The Bubble) Stathopoulos. Beechwood again won the toss and again elected to bat.

Missing Tim (who was captaining Graz), Beechwood decided to stagger the order, with Beechwood skipper Tony replaced by an semi-armoured Keith to partner Dean. Safee and Adrian started as the moderately-new-ball attack: Graz forgot to bring a new cherry.

With temperatures already into the thirties, Safee bowled with good pace and movement and troubled both batsmen. Adrian also started well and his first over from the Mountain End saw some classic Makin-madness. Dean pushed a ball to Tim at short mid-off and Keith called a suicidal single and set off on a charge. He was quickly sent back but a direct underarm hit saw the club's founder back in the hutch. Enter the dangerous South African, Val.

Safee and Adrian tired quickly, with Val punishing the occasional bad ball in style; Beechwood were 27-1 off 6. First-change bowlers Tim and Emlyn started well, bowling accurately and with swing. Val was beginning to look to play more expansively when Emlyn bowled a beautiful late inswinger that cleaned him up. With the score on 36-2, Tony came to the wicket.

With the first ball of the next over, Tim got one to lift and do a bit and Dean gloved into the waiting gloves of Jim; 36-3 and Beechwood were in it. Ian joined Tony and Beechwood slowly advanced the score towards 50.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Bashir replaced Tim and Andy replaced Emlyn, with both bowlers settling in nicely. With the score on 48, Andy snuck one through the usually inpenetrable defense of Tony to bowl the club's all-time leading run scorer. Beechwood were now in bigger trouble as Prashant strode to the wicket.

Ian began batting with increasing fluidity but was perhaps fortunate to survive being caught off Andy from a full-toss that Keith, umpiring at the bowlers end, adjudged too high. Colin at square leg was consulted and gave his opinion that the ball was fair, but to no avail. The sixth wicket pair added a further 34 before Keith was back in the game, adjudging Prashant lbw attempting a drive from Andy; 82-5 and out came Chris.

Ian and Chris added a further 28 before the latter was bowled for 14 by Graz guest, Sajid. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, as Ian was joined at the wicket by an out-of-form Bobby Robinson with the score on 110-6. Bobby immediately found form with his unorthodox attacking style, shovelling the ball to all corners with Ian happy to give him the strike. An exciting innings came to an end with the veteran caught behind off Sajid for a fine 17 with a single ball remaining in the innings.

Stuart strode to the wicket for the last ball, which he missed and was smartly run out by the alert Jim. The ininings closed with Beechwood on 132-8, Ian finishing with a well composed 31 n.o.. Not a bad effort against a fine bowling and fielding performance from their Styrian opposition. Andy and Sajid finished with two wickets apiece, Tim and Emlyn each taking one scalp.

After a 45 minute tea/beer break, during which Kent umpire Colin rehydrated, Graz opened their innings with Adrian and Jim. The latter had dealt some mild sledging to Beechwood skipper Tony who was keen to even the score. Beechwood were missing Woody who withdrew from the game with eye problems and were aided in the field by two substitute fielders. Val and Chris started with the (literally) new ball needing early wickets.

Val bowled with excellent pace, aggression and away movement and Chris bowled with good accuracy but the part-time Graz openers batted with good technique to keep them out. The early scoring was slow but with a moderate total to chase, maintaining wickets was the key. Adrian was particularly harsh on anything short and both batsman soon settled. After 10 overs, Graz were 25 without loss.

Val was replaced by Ian and Chris by Prashant in a bowling attack that boasted four spinners. A disappointed Adrian was first to go, top edging an attempted sweep off Prashant after scoring an excellent 33 that included seven fours: 67-1. Shalin came in at 3 for the home team.

As is so often the case, Jim followed his partner back to the pavilion (or rather oversized umbrella) soon after and for an identical score, top edging a delivery from Stuart onto his helmet and into the grateful gloves of keeper Keith: 73-2 and Beechwood began to hope. Enter hard-hitting Graz Pakistani all-rounder, Safee.

Both Safee and Shalin looked to attack but both were undone in quick succession. Safee missed a short-pitched but straight pie from Stuart while deciding where to hit it for six, and Ian snaffled a sharp return catch from Shalin Graz were wobbling with the score at 84-4. Pawan batted 5 with Kiwi Mark, playing perhaps his last game for the club, at 6.

Pawan batted in familiar 'thou shall not pass' style under instructions from his skipper. Mark batted with more fluidity, carefully placing two square cuts just over the head of his captain at point. The New Zealander was dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Savory for a quick-fire 18.

102-5 quickly became 102-6 when Emlyn was caught by Val trying to smash a ball from Ian out of the park. Graz were further in trouble when Andy was run out for 4. Sajid came in to join Pawan as Beechwood quick, Val, came on for his second spell with the game balanced on a knife-edge. Sajid slogged and missed on several occasions and was eventually bowled by Ian for 9.

119-8 and Graz still needed 14 runs to win as Tim joined Pawan. However, the ex-Beechwoodian was immediately served up a four- and six-ball to take the pressure off. Pawan staunchly kept out a third maiden from an unlucky Val for Tim to hit the winning runs off Prashant with 2 overs plus change remaining. A good victory for Graz in a hard fought and thoroughly enjoyable game.

Graz C. C. man of the match - Andy

Beechwood C.C. man of the match - Colin

Thanks to the players and supporters of all three sides for making the weekend's cricket so enjoyable. Thanks to Jim and Sajid for guesting for Graz. We sincerely hope to welcome back Beechwood to Austria next year for a rematch.