Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
A MOMENT of history beckons for Zimbabwe Cricket when English County side, Durham County women’s team embarks on a trip to the country next Saturday.
This is a momentous occasion for both Zimbabwe Cricket and Durham County as this will be the latter’s first visit to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced the historic tour of Zimbabwe by English county cricket club Durham, with both their men’s and women’s sides set to take part in a highly anticipated pre-season series this March.
The historic women’s tour will see the visitors face the Zimbabwe Women’s High Performance and Zimbabwe Women’s Select teams in two 50-over matches at Old Hararians Sports Club on March 20 and 22.
The women’s series will then move to the T20 format, with three matches set for March 24, at Takashinga Cricket Club, March 26 at Harare Sports Club under floodlights – the only night fixture – and March 27 back at Takashinga Cricket Club.
ZC Managing Director, Givemore Makoni, hailed the significance of the tour, emphasising its impact on the development of Zimbabwean cricket.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our local cricketers, both men and women, to gain exposure to high-level competitive cricket. Playing against a well-established county side like Durham will help our players sharpen their skills, gain valuable experience and prepare for future international assignments,” said Makoni.
The Durham men’s team, making their fourth visit to the country in five years, touched down at Robert Mugabe International Airport on Friday ahead of their matches against Zimbabwe “A”
They will meet in two three-day encounters scheduled for 12-14 March at Harare Sports Club and 18-20 March at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare.
In their last visit to Zimbabwe, last year, Durham County also participated in the Domestic T20 league and they broke records on their way to winning the title.
Up against the defending champions, Eagles, in the country’s ceremonial home of cricket and under lights for the first time in the domestic T20 league, Durham County made a laughing stock out of Eagles.
Durham were merciless as they embarrassingly defeated the defending champions in the final by a massive 213 runs to be crowned the new champions of the country’s domestic T20 league.
The eventual winners won the toss and elected to bat first and were unstoppable as they scored 229/6 in their 20 overs before going on to mercilessly shoot down Eagles to just 16 runs all out in 8,1 overs.
Their 213-run-winning margin became the third largest margin of victory in men’s T20s (now the sixth) in the world and Eagles’ paltry 16 runs – at the time – was the third-lowest total in men’s T20s (now the sixth).
Durham’s victory meant that they finished the league as invincible, winning all their games, proving a class above the Zimbabwean domestic teams.
ZC, on Friday announced two Zimbabwe “A” squads set to face Durham in the two three-day matches.
The selected squads feature a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, providing an opportunity for players to impress selectors ahead of future international assignments.
Zimbabwe “A” squad for first three-dayer vs Durham:
Ben Curran, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Nicholas Welch, Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhevere, Dion Myers, Nyasha Mayavo, Vincent Masekesa, Alex Falao, Tanaka Chivanga, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Johnathan Campbell, Newman Nyamhuri, Wallace Mubayiwa.
Zimbabwe “A” squad for second three-dayer vs Durham:
Tanunurwa Makoni, Prince Masvaure, Matthew Campbell, Antum Naqvi, Matthew Welch, Johnathan Campbell, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Wallace Mubayiwa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, Victor Nyauchi, Alex Falao, Nyasha Mayavo, Takudzwanashe Kaitano. – @brandon_malvin
