By ELIAS CHIPEPO –

ATHENES XI unbeaten run came to an end following a six wicket defeat to leaders Luanshya Royals A during the Copperbelt Cricket Association (CCA) Senior League match played in Chingola.
The match played at Nchanga Cricket Club on Sunday saw Royals win the toss and elected to bat first and scored 155 runs all out in 29.4 overs. Isaac Mwaba top scored with 35 runs as James Zimba contributed 22 runs while Sanker Angamuthu made 20 runs.
Pick of the bowlers for Athenes was Nitin Patel who picked up four wickets with Jatin Patel getting three wickets and Pritul Patel got two wickets.
Athenes, batting second, faltered in their run chase and were restricted to 149 for eight in 30 overs. Niren Patel top scored with 65 runs as Savan Patel made 34 runs, while Gladson Kandela and James Zimba both picked up two wickets for Royals.
Royals lead the table with 14 points having played eight games while Athenes dropped into third place on eight points having played five games.
In Mufulira, visiting AMSL XI defeated hosts Mufulira by two wickets to move to second position on 10 points having played five games as Mufulira remained pointless after their game.
Mufulira won the toss and opted to bat first and in their innings the hosts posted 138 runs all out in 27 overs.
AMSL XI batting second reached their victory target in 29 overs, Shashidhar Nayak made 24 runs and Rajesh Choudhury scored 25 runs.
The other fixture saw Nkana defeat JAIDS XI away in Chingola by 74 runs to move to eight points while the hosts remained stuck on two points.
JAIDS won the toss and elected to field first and in their innings Nkana posted 167 in 25 overs. Vijay Shetty top scored with 55 runs and Tinu Patel made 33 runs while JAIDS batting second were all out for 93 runs in 23.1 overs.