After the war

On Friday, August 23, 1946, at Lord's, during the first post-war Flamingo tour to England, the match against the MCC took place. At nineteen degrees it was not too hot for a summer’s day, and it turned out to be a memorable game. Three days earlier, The Flamingos had made the crossing on "Queen Emma". The free sale of alcohol was very much appreciated by them. Then things got serious. Reporter Joop van der Luur: “After a seven-year absence, the Flamingos entered the sanctuary through the Grace Gates once again. We were received by MCC captain Ronny Aird, future president of the MCC and according to Who's Who of Cricketers, ‘a stylish right-hand batsman’. Then we went through the first doors at the back of the Pavilion up the stairs to the spacious luxurious dressing room."

Stolk, Gallois, Sillevis

MCC, although badly affected by the war in which the club lost 214 members, nevertheless brought in a very strong team including Errol Holmes who scored 1000 runs for Surrey six times in a season and the excellent Gloucestershire fielder Arthur Brodhurst. 

MCC batted first and soon saw its openers, Belle and Buckmaster leave. Captain Aird (27) and especially Holmes (60) lasted longer, but after that the cake was pretty much gone (189 for 7 decl.). Bowling was very economical, with Joop van der Luur in particular (3 for 53 in 24). In the Flamingos batting innings, Manus Stolk (57) particularly excelled, while Willem Hans Gallois (48) and Leen Sillevis (28) also contributed (192 for 5).

In the pocket

This first Flamingo victory at the MCC led to enormous joy. Joop van der Luur: "Fifteen minutes before the end, Leen (Sillevis) made the winning hit and the amazing tension turned into an incredible tumult. Congratulations to each other, exclamations such as "It's in the pocket" and "And now to the Pimm's Number One," blared across the dressing room."

"A very happy association with the cricket field was renewed by the visit of that distinguished Dutch team The Flamingos," The Times wrote a day later. And everyone wholeheartedly agreed.