adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
MTSHINGWE Primary School from Emakhandeni suburb in Bulawayo won the fifth edition of the Baines Junior Dumisani Mankunzini Winter Cricket Festival on Saturday. Mtshingwe, who also won the 2014 edition, beat Gampu Primary by 10 runs in the final. Mtshingwe scored 156 for four in their 20 overs and bowled out Gampu for 146 to win the title.
Baines Junior, Mtshingwe, Gampu, Greenfield, Robert Tredgold, Nkulumane, Helemu, Lukhanyiso, Waterford, Thomas Rudland, Newmansford, Hugh Beadle, SOS, Hillside Junior, McKeurtan, Henry Low, Moray, Hope Fountain, Nketa, Josiah Chinamano and Tennyson took part in the tournament.
“It was a great tournament and the kids really had fun. What was clear is that there is abundant talent at grassroots, which needs to be nurtured. I was happy with the turnout and to see Mtshingwe reclaiming the title they won in 2014. It shows that they are a quality side and illuminated the finals.
“I think the best game of the tournament was the semi-final that saw Gampu beating Baines by a single run with the last ball,” said Mankunzini, the tournament founder and organiser.
On their way to the final, Mtshingwe beat SOS in the semi-finals by five wickets.
Mtshingwe took home a trophy and $50. There were also individual prizes for excelling cricketers and Gampu’s Ashley Chipare pocketed $15 and a trophy for being voted Player of the Tournament.
Chipare, who scored 156 runs, also bagged the Batsman of the Tournament accolade and $10 prize money. Lungile Nyathi of Mtshingwe, who took 15 wickets, was the Bowler of the Tournament and took home $10.
“We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this competition and we’re looking forward to a bigger event next year. “We had Nashua giving us water, Exodus TV live-streamed our matches, Eagle Life Church provided teas for our officials, Zuva Petroleum and Toyota each donated $100 for the event,” Mankunzini said.
Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo, Principal Director in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Reverend Paul Bayethe Damasane and school heads attended the tournament.
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