Hagget stars as MCC continue dominance over Kenya

What you need to know:

Hagget’s 58 came off 99 balls with two boundaries and a six. He top-scored for his side. Batting first, MCC set a target of 247 by the time all their batsmen were sent back to the pavilion in 46.3 overs

Tarandeep Singh (3/41) was Kenya’s highest wicket taker. James Ngoche  (2/41), Aveet Desai (2/38), Sonu Singh (1/22) and Joseph Onyango (1/47) were the other wicket takers

The two teams meet at Nairobi Gymkhana Monday for the last game, a Twenty20. After the game the visitors will return to England

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of Lords, England, batsman, Callum Hagget, Sunday knocked half a century that helped his team to beat Kenya Select X1 by 49 runs at Nairobi Jaffrey.

Hagget’s 58 came off 99 balls with two boundaries and a six. He top-scored for his side. Batting first, MCC set a target of 247 by the time all their batsmen were sent back to the pavilion in 46.3 overs.

Seren Waters knocked a quick unbeaten half a ton, 54 that came off 48 deliveries with three boundaries. James Scott (42 off 38 balls with five boundaries and two sixes), Joe Barrett (26 off 24 balls withfour boundaries) and Will Jones (19) off 29 balls with a boundary) were the only batsmen who posted double digit figures for their team.

Tarandeep Singh (3/41) was Kenya’s highest wicket taker. James Ngoche  (2/41), Aveet Desai (2/38), Sonu Singh (1/22) and Joseph Onyango (1/47) were the other wicket takers.

In reply Kenya were routed for 197 with 54 balls in hand. Irfan Karim (63 off 101 balls with four boundaries ) was Kenya’s highest runs getter.  Sandeep Adole knocked a quick half a century, 53 off 35 deliveries with six boundaries and a six. James Ngoche (11 off 23 balls) were the only batsmen who posted meaningful runs for their team on the scoreboard.

Hagget also performed well with the ball taking four wickets for 33. Adam Riley (2/40), Tom Goldman (2/41), Will Jones (1/18) and Jack Williams (1/30) were the other wicket takers.

The two teams meet at Nairobi Gymkhana Monday for the last game, a Twenty20. After the game the visitors will return to England.

The MCC tour came at a time Kenya cricket was going through a difficult time with two groups of officials fighting it out in court for the control of the game. That has caused problems to contracted players who have not been paid their September salaries.

The majority of these players boycotted the matches against MCC leaving officials to recruit a number of under-19 players who represented the country in the World Cup in New Zealand in February.

A good number of these boys are students who are going to sit their Form Four examination next month. Therefore, the boys were not available during school days and their replacements had to be sought.

In the first game that the majority of the boys who were in New Zealand did duty for Kenya Select XI at Sikh Union on October 5, Kenya beat MCC by 74 runs. That is the only victory for Kenya so far.

In the absence of Alex Obanda, Rakep Patel, Nelson Odhiambo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Shem Ngoche, Emmanuel Bundi, Lucas Oluoch, Rushab Patel , and Elijah Otieno in the side, the makeshift team is no match for the tourists.

The weakness of Kenya team was exposed in the two day game at the Nairobi Gymkhana on Friday and Saturday that MCC won by ten wickets. The majority of the boys are only used to the short format of the game: 50 and Twenty20 overs matches.

They struggled to adapt to the longer version of the game.