By ELIAS CHIPEPO  –

NKANA beat Luanshya Royals A by nine runs to win the Independence Cup cricket tournament played at the Bharati Sports Club in Luanshya.
The tournament graced by Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) president Reuben Chama and Cooperbelt Cricket Association (CCA) secretary Martin Mutono saw four teams battling for honours.
It was Nkana who won the toss and elected to bat first and a Satish Reddy propelled innings of 73 runs, saw the Kitwe side reach 125 runs for five wickets down in their allotted 12 overs as Chimya Chilekwa was the best bowler with two wickets.
Royals batting second, fell short of their victory target when they were bowled out for 116 runs to lose by nine runs.
Opener Joseph Mwewa hit a rapid 51 runs and was the last man out. Musonda Yambayamba made 23 runs, Shanker Angamunthu scored 15 runs and Steven Banda weighed in with 14 runs as Jagdish Parab emerged as Nkana’s best bowler.
The best batsman was Reddy with his knock of 73 runs while Jagdish Parab was the best bowler with Angamunthu being the best all – rounder.
To reach the finals, Nkana defeated AMSL XI by five runs in a tight match while Royals beat Kanini by six wickets.
Nkana, who won the toss and elected to bat first, scored 91 runs with Reddy top scoring with 17 runs. AMSL XI bowler Rajeshi Chodhury was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets.
In reply, AMSL XI were restricted to 86 runs, Pradeep Shetty  top scored with 18 runs, Karan Chauhan was the best bowler for Nkana with three wickets.
The other semi finals saw Kanini batting first making 75 runs. James Chembo got two wickets for Royals who raced to their victory target in 10 overs as veteran Steven Banda top scored with 18 runs while Musonda Yambayamba contributed 15 runs.