An early start for the team, the culmination of the last two days’ events, and a return to the fold for Joe, albeit looking tender after a couple of days confined to barracks, but showing willing to make the journey.
Arriving at Ndera school, the reception was a little more muted than usual, with fewer children milling around. The CWB team set up 4 pitches for the tournament, and as things started to look like the Maidans of Mumbai teams started to arrive, Kabati Central Academy standing out with a spanking clean new school bus
A few extra players from some of the schools came along, so a new team, ‘Tigers’ was created from those not originally allocated to a team. The first game between Muranga and Ndera wasn’t a tight one, despite excellent fielding and a Jonty Rhodes style catch from one of the Ndera players. In general the cricket was of a good standard and with Muranga winning their opening game and looking good going into the rest of the tournament, they also looked good due to their new branded ‘cricket team’ shirts arriving halfway through the game.
Some tremendous cricket was played as conditions, and the competion, warmed up into the afternoon, great shots, some good bowling and a particular highlight was some of the fielding, as a succession of great catches were taken. Less successful was the running between the wickets, with the amount of players sold down the river by their batting partners reminded me of watching Inzaman and Geoffrey Boycott.
There was some controversy towards the end, as in the deciding boy’s match one team tried to send their best batters in twice in order to press for the win. Fortunately Umpire Nick spotted this, and ensured that fair play was maintained, not without some protest!
As the dust settled the boys’ tournament was won by Ndera, The girls’ tournament, some 20 minutes earlier, was also won by Ndera, demonstrating that even in Muranga home advantage is always a factor in support.
Prizes were handed out to the winning teams as well as some individual prizes to some who had shown good sportsmanship, development through the Festival or raw talent, with their details passed to Nick and Mattias, to ensure that they keep an eye on their progress going forward.
The will to win of all involved, including the teachers was astounding, and the festival proved a great success.
Back to our usual spot for lunch, the tables and numerous cats ready and waiting for us, French toast Kenyan style again proving a hit, and Mattias arrived an hour after the rest of us, having conducted post match interviews. We arrived back at the hotel and started to prepare the coach (and coaches) for the long drive to Nakuru tomorrow, with the promise of spotting some exciting African animals en route.
The evening meal in the hotel was a drawn out affair, with some confusion around the bill, but some light relief was provided as one intrepid traveller’s laundry had gone missing and after much toing and froing was returned, but sadly unlaundered!
On to Nakuru
Marcos
Good work team!!