By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZAMBIA yesterday bounced back from a demoralising defeat to Rwanda with a seven wickets win over Mozambique at the ongoing 2014 Pepsi International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Under-19 Division-Two tournament in Lusaka.
In match played at Lotus Sports Club, Zambia put up a spirited fight in the run-chase to redeem the faint hopes of making it to Division-One.
After losing to toss, Zambia was sent into fielding and in their innings, Mozambique were skittled out for 112 in 33.5 overs with Zambia’s Kanswe Omala dismantling the starting partnership for nothing in the first over.
Francisco Covana, however, steadied the Mozambique ship with a score of 44 runs with Helder Guambe adding 31 runs while the Zambian bowlers granted their opponents 22 free runs from extras.
Star bowlers for Zambia were Misheck Malama who picked four wickets for 17 runs while Omala gave away 27 runs for three wickets. And in reply, Zambia reached 113 runs for three in 19 overs with Chetan Reddy and Shakil Patel’s unbroken partnership of 54 runs proving crucial to Zambia’s win.
Reddy, who is the team captain, weighed in 33 runs while Patel bringing 11 runs with Mario Nithiyanath contributing 11 with Mozambique shipping in 40 extras for Zambia.
The only bad spot in Zambia’s win was that Number-Three batsman Musonda Yembayemba left the pitch injured after a bouncer struck him on the head as Zambia moved to six points and today plays Swaziland at Metropolitan in their last game of the tournament.
In another game played at Metropolitans Sports Club, leaders Tanzania beat Swaziland by six wickets with Asshan Jasani starring in the win by scoring 99 runs before being run out looking for a century while Shafii Kolo added 45 runs to the 298 runs for four wickets innings score.
Batting second, Swaziland were all out for 71 runs in 25 overs with chief tormentor being Salum Jumbe who picked up five wickets and giving away just 22 runs while Lazaro Festo contributed two wickets for 16 runs and Salman Nasser also getting two wickets for 15 runs.
Today, Tanzania plays Rwanda while Ghana faces Mozambique.