Accra, Feb. 11, GNA - The national under-19 cricket team lost the first of four international friendly matches between Ghana and visiting Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from the United Kingdom at the Achimota Secondary School Oval on Wednesday.

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first. They were all out for 190 runs in 38 overs exhibiting some amazing cricket prowess. The Ghanaians however, were a pale shadow of their former self, failing to take advantage of the home support to maul the visitors. They could only manage 93 runs all out with just 22 overs.

But the Ghanaian senior cricket team has promised the nation to make up for their juniors on Friday and Saturday at the Achimota Oval and the Accra Polo Turf respectively where the two sides are expected to clash.

The weeklong friendly was opened by Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports who charged Ghanaian budding cricketers to take keen interest in the matches and learn from their seniors. He expressed the hope that the matches will help rejuvenate the sport, which has been dominated by students from the first and second cycle institutions.

Present was Mr. Albert Agbozo, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council.

The friendlies are to toughen the Ghanaians for some grueling competitions in the year, which include defending the West African Crown and the 2007 World Cup qualifier in South Africa.

The MCC will organize a day's coaching clinic for the Ghanaian officials as well as practice matches for the young ones on Thursday, January 12 at the Achimota School Oval.

The MCC, responsible for making the laws of cricket, is the world's most famous cricket club. They will depart for Gambia for a similar exercise on Wednesday, January 18, and are also billed to tour Morocco in October this year.