24 Mar 2014

National cricket 20-20 (T20) tournament kick started on Sunday, March 23 in the northern region which saw four teams battle it out at Francistown cricket club grounds.

The first game was between Francistown Sports and Recreation Club (FSR) and Nyangabwe Cricket Club. The first batting team was FSR who gained a maximum of 110 runs for six wickets while Nyangabwe Cricket Club emerged the winners by scoring 111 runs for five wickets in their 20 overs.

It was the moment of brilliance from Safi Shaikh whose batting earned him 54 runs emerging the highest runner for all games played in features. Nyangabwe Cricket Club started off at a slow note as in their first 6 overs they managed to score 28 runs.

It was during the middle of the game in the 10 overs that they awakened and through Shaikh`s impressive runs they racked off 43 runs. By the time they reached the 17 overs they had pocketed 83 runs and having lost only five wickets they sealed their victory.

On one hand, Nyangabwe Cricket Club who batted first, started on a slow pace as in their four overs they had clinched 11 while their rivalries had 26 runs in the same over. However, their best batter Hemal Pragji who is in the national team earned them an impressive 46 runs.

In the the second game, it was the Selibe Phikwe side which won by 104 runs with one wicket. Francistown cricket club who batted first failed to utilize the home advantage and they got to them selves 103 runs with sevn wickets.

The biggest threat to Francistown cricket club was the first two batters Sohel Doriya and Faruk Patel of Selibe Phikwe who batted until the 12 over having gained 70 runs. The teams’ best bowler was Vasim Shaikh with four overs, 18 runs and three wickets.

The next round continues next week and the final will be in may which will see one team from both the southern and northern region battle it out. Ends