BAC cruise past Lupinyu

BULAWAYO Athletic Club (BAC) got their National Premier League (NPL) play-offs campaign to a flying start with a crushing eight-wicket win over Lupinyu Cricket Club at BAC yesterday.

The Bulawayo side flexed its muscles over the Victoria Falls-based Lupinyu after winning the toss and electing to field.

BAC bowled out their opponents for just 71 runs in 16,4 overs before going on to comfortably chase down the target in 8,3 overs, finishing on 75/2 as they made light work of Lupinyu.

Spinner Peter Nyandoro led from the front with the ball for BAC, finishing with figures of 4/12 in his five-over spell, while Mlungisi Mpofu also had a good spell of 4/35 in 5,4 overs.

Banda took the other scalp.

Only two Lupinyu batters managed to cross double figures. Skipper Fikile Dube top scored with 24 runs off 34 deliveries, with opening batter Sean Phiri making 22 runs off 23 balls.

Five of their batters fell for ducks.

In their chase, BAC lost the wickets of Vitalis Buwu for five runs off four balls and James Hlongwani, who scored 28 runs off 24 balls. Saxon Pettican was unbeaten on 24 off as many deliveries.

Prosper Nyoni (1/34 in three overs) and Dube (1/13 in three overs) took the two wickets that fell for the visitors.

It was a worthy victory for BAC who had been hard at work in the past week preparing for the play-off encounter.

Teams competing in the play-offs are BAC, Rainbow Cricket Club, Bindura Cricket Club, Rimuka Cricket Club, Redcliff Cricket Club and Lupinyu Cricket Club.

BAC are in the play-offs after finishing third in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association (BMCA) First League behind Amakhosi Cricket Club and Queens Sports Club. — @brandon_malvin