Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Metropolitan Cricket Association (BMCA) are hosting a development tournament for teams from around the city and one from Kwekwe which began yesterday at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC).
The tournament is scheduled to run until Saturday at the same venue and there are four teams participating. BAC High Performance Centre, Kwekwe Development, Emakhandeni High Performance Centre and Elton Chigumbura Academy are teams participating.
A total of eight matches are set to be played throughout the duration of the tournament. Two matches were played yesterday.
In the first match of the tournament, BAC played against Kwekwe Development in the morning and won by 62 runs.
Batting first, BAC posted 145/3 in 20 overs and went on to bowl out their opponents for 83 in 11.3 overs to get off their tournament to a good start.
BAC’s opening batter, Nathan Mtuke top-scored with an unbeaten 56 runs from 62 runs while Mordecai Sibanda scored 23 runs from 21 balls not out to help their side to a good score.
Tavonga Dakwa starred with the ball for BAC, taking three wickets for 10 runs in two overs while Pilate Ndlovu picked up two for six runs in two overs.
The other wickets were taken by Pilate Mubobo, Christine Mutasa, Omhle Dube and Tamuda Gwainda. Tinotenda Rwauya top scored for Kwekwe with 32 runs from 17 deliveries.
In the second match, Kwekwe managed to bounce back to register a 49 runs win over the Elton Chigumbura Academy.
Batting first, Kwekwe posted 140/6 in 20 overs and went on to restrict their opponents to 91/7 in 20 overs as well.
Rwauya top-scored for Kwekwe again with an unbeaten half-century, finishing on 69 runs from 54 deliveries while Anotidaishe Mbunge also remained not out on 12 runs from 29 balls.
Veer Patel starred with the ball for the Academy side, taking a five-wicket haul to finish with the figures 5/28 in four overs.
Only three Academy batters managed to cross double figures with the bat in their chase with the top scorer being Sandile Ndlovu on 17 runs from 18 balls while Patel and Tanaka Nyambirai scored 11 runs each.
The latter remained not out.
“As a province we are grateful to the four teams who have agreed to take part in what we hope is going to be an annual tournament. Special mention to Kwekwe Development team for gracing this occasion and taking part in an Under-16 cricket tournament.
A big thank you to the parents, sponsors and well-wishers who through generous donations have made this possible.
“We hope this will inspire the youngsters and provide a platform to showcase their talents as well as provide the necessary feedback to coaches and members of the technical staff.
We look forward to and we are certainly planning to have more junior tournaments in the current April holiday,” said BMCA chairperson, Godwin Dube.
Three matches are set to be played today, starting in the morning. The first match will be between BAC and Elton Chigumbura Academy followed by Emakhandeni and Academy before Emakhandeni close off against Kwekwe. – @brandon_malvin.
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