Obuya half ton lifts Kenya Select past touring English side

Kenya Select X1 dependable batsman, Collins Obuya Monday knocked a quick half a century that helped his team beat the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of Lords, England, by 26 runs in a Twenty20 match Nairobi Club.

Obuya’s 62 came off 28 deliveries with six boundaries and five sixes. Obuya was Kenya’s highest runs getter.

Batting first Kenya set a target of 184 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted overs.

Zahid Abbas with unbeaten 34 that came off 22 balls with three sixes and Gurdeep Singh (27 off 33 balls with two boundaries) were the only batsmen that posted meaningful figures on the scoreboard.

The MCC wickets were shared among Will Philips (2/41), Adam Riley (2/27) and Miles Richardson (1/28).

In reply, MCC batsmen were all dismissed with a score of 157 showing on the scoreboard with five balls in hand.

The tourists were given a flying start by their opening batsman, Callum Hagget (36 off 19 balls with ftwo boundaries and four sixes) who shared an opening partnership of 91 with Will Jones (59 off 36 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes).

Tom Lice (16 off 11 balls with a boundary and a six) and Jack Williams (16 off 11 balls with a six) were the only batsmen who posted meaningful figures on the scoreboafrd.)

Obuya also shone with the ball taking three wickets for20, Gurdeep (2/28), Zahid Abbas (2/29) James Ngoche (1/24) and Aveet Desai (1/3) were the other wicket takers.

The MCC tour was used by Kenya to gauge their strength as they prepare for the forthcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League Division Three set for Oman in next month.

A number of under-19 boys who represented in the country in the Age group World Cup in New Zealand in February got a chance to prove their worth and quite a number of them were impressive and they will definitely take the places of some of the players who boycotted the friendly series.

The national team coach, Maurice Odumbe did not mince his words in the first day of the game between MCC and Kenya Select X1 at Sikh Union on Sunday October 6.

He said: “Some players have definitely lost their careers today as the youngsters have proven their worth. Some careers will be lost while others still have a chance to prove their worth.”

In the opening match on October 6 at Sikh Union, Kenya beat MCC by 74 runs. The visitors leave early Tuesday morning.