England’s cricketers avenge TZ team defeat

Dar es Salaam. Visiting England’s MCC notched up a three-run win over TCA team in an international friendly match at Leaders Club ground yesterday to settle a bitter score against the hosts.

The victory was a sweet revenge for MCC against TCA boys who inflicted a defeat of similar margin over the visitors in their first match two days ago at the same venue.

Monday’s defeat had put their England team’s superiority on a ‘knife edge’.

MCC’s victory in yesterday’s match was an ideal gift for team manager Tim Kirk, who played 150 matches for the club before calling time on his glittering career.

Kirk said eh way happy with the way his team played, but fell short of revealing his age.

In Monday’s match, the hosts hammered the visitors by 31 runs with Kassim Nassoro engineering the ‘disaster.’

MCC’s triumph was built on a superb performance by, among other players, Evert Bekker, who took 33 runs not out with two wickets, while Simon Lambert taking 20 others to score 160 runs, despite dropping eight wickets in 20 overs.

MCC’s late fireworks enabled them to catch up with 157/7 score by TCA in their first batting.

Arshaan Jesani made his half century (50 runs) from 36 balls he faced for the home side as Salum Jumbe made half of it from 20 balls as fat man, but hard fighting and impressive Qaiser Awan took 13.

The absence of Kassim Nassoro, who posted a century in their 31-run win over the visitors two days ago, was sort of a blow for the TCA team.

Nassoro, the national team batsman, scored 91 runs from 52 balls he faced in the first match, but did not play for the team in yesterday’s match.

He also picked two wickets to become the best player of the match to win a token prize from MCC’s team manager, Kirk, who was impressed by his outstanding performance.

TCA’s Rijali Fentu was man of the match, having caught up four wickets as Riziki Kiseto took two others.

Despite losing the match, the MCC’s team manager, Kirk rates the home boys as the fast growing in cricket development.

“They are good boys despite having some little things to change their game into a better form,” said Timj Kirk. Their coming is part of the so-called ‘MCC Developing Tour’ to develop the sport.

Kirk said that its their tradition to visit countries of their choices every year as part of their mission to develop the sport.

“We have this time decided to visit two countries, Tanzania and Kenya.

“After concluding our friendly assignments here, we will go to Kenya on Saturday for a single friendly match in Nairobi city,” said Kirk.

MCC, the oldest cricket team in England, arrived in the country last week for a series of friendlies.

They are in the country at the invitation of Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) as part of the national cricket governing body’s efforts to promote the sport.

TCA has voiced optimism that local teams will have an ideal opportunity to share ideas, skills and experience with the MCC players during their week-long tour of Tanzania.

The national cricket team, the friendly matches will be part of their preparations ahead of the forthcoming international competitions.

TCA has been organising international friendlies for local teams in fresh efforts to turn around the country’s cricket fortunes.

In the recent past, the national cricket team has been competing in various Internationsl Cricket Council-organised competitions.

But their performance in high-profile championships is not impressivedue to various factors, including lack of exposure.

This is the second time England’s MCC are visiting Tanzania for friendly matches.

They are expected to swing back into action tomorrow against opponents yet to be named.