MCC v Dar es Salaam Select XI - match report

by Lt. Col Tim Lerwill (Tour Manager)

The University Campus ground, set towards the back of the Campus, at first glance was idyllic with a grass square able to create eight pitches and a large outfield.

Excitement ran through the party at the prospect, after the bustle of Zanzibar, of starting the tour proper. However the pitch was to prove a difficult one on which to time shots.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the MCC moved smoothly into gear with an opening partnership of 80 establishing a solid base to allow the MCC to reach 200 off the allotted 50 overs.

Captain's innings: Michael Foster scored 52 Skipper, Michael Foster, top scored with an excellent 52 and was ably assisted by Alan Gofton, 44, and Geoff Warrington, 48.

For the local side, Khalil Rhemtullah son of the Tanzania Cricket Association Chairman, bowled with fluency and pace enough to trouble the batting.

The Dar es Salaam Select XI – a side made up of club players from the local leagues – made steady progress but lost wickets at regular intervals and were never allowed to put together a partnership.

Khalil Rhemtullah, the only batsman to look comfortable, scored 19 but when he departed all chance of victory evaporated in the face of the accurate spin of Graeme Rickman and Jonathen Bailey as the Dar es Salaam Select XI reached 111 before losing the last wicket.

The Tour Party was rightly pleased to have a victory and to have coped with a full 50 overs in the field under a relentless heat.