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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
MUSIKILI from Zambia will be the only foreign team at this year’s Falcon College Junior Schools Cricket Festival to be held in Esigodini on Saturday this week.
A 10-overs-per side competition, the annual fiesta will involve 12 teams with the other 11 from all parts of the country and Musikili the only foreign school. The local schools are Whitestone, Petra, Carmel,
Victoria Falls Primary, Ruzawi, Springvale, Saint John’s Preparatory School, Hartmann House, Lilfordia Bryden and Welton Primary School.
Falcon College director of sport, Gavin Ewing said in a match a bowler is only allowed one over and batsmen have to retire when they get to 25 runs.
The schools will play group matches then head to knock outs with a final marking an end to proceedings.
Last year heavy rain saw the tournament not having an outright winner as the schools ended requesting organisers to allow them to play against teams they would not normally face during the year.
This was after play had been disrupted on the first day.
The Falcon College Primary Schools Cricket Festival was started in 2005. It was the brainchild of the headmaster, Reg Querl whose idea was to introduce primary school children to life at the Esigodini based school. This was through a weekend of competitive sport and involvement in other Falcon College activities such as sleeping in dormitories, eating in the dining hall and interacting with Falcon pupils.
Schools from all over Zimbabwe and even from Zambia and Botswana have participated over the years. The cricket is arranged to pit schools against those they do not usually face. It also aims to create maximum participation so that all players would usually both bat and bowl in each match.
For years, Ruzawi from Marondera have dominated the festival and have won it more than any other school. In 2016, Ruzawi defeated St John’s Preparatory in the final which headed into the super over.
Some of the sponsors who have contributed to the successful holding of the tournament in the past are Fazak, Dairibord and Introwise.
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Online Reporter