By YVONNE SAKALA –
THE Zambia Air Service Training Institute (ZASTI) started the Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) University T20 league on a bright note winning the first game by six wickets.
In a league that has attracted seven teams from higher learning institutions, ZASTI beat Lusaka Vocation Training Centre (LVTC) by 27 runs in a match ZASTI were sent into fielding after losing the toss.
In their innings, LVTC managed an embarrassing 26 runs all out with Benson Phiri being the highest scorer on an awful two runs and the team got their scores from the many wides from ZASTI bowlers.
George Mutale got three wickets in his overs, while Kateya Chikwanda had two wickets. In response, ZASTI managed to pass the 27 winning target with a loss of just five wickets to win a match.
Brian Mukelebai batted well for his name when he scored 12 runs while Samson Shatini got one wicket for the opposite team.
In the second game of the day Lusaka Business and Technical College (LBTC) beat LVTC by 28 runs.
LBTC won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 73 runs all out in 12 overs with Harry Phiri scoring 31 runs while Shadreck Bwalya scored 14 runs for the college while Mukelebai got three wickets.
In reply, LVTC only managed 45 runs all out with Mukelebai scoring 10 runs while Albert Chanda and Harry Phiri each got two wickets.
In the last game of the day, LBTC lost to ZASTI by six wickets.
LBTC won the toss and decided to bat first and scored 31 runs with Edward Mulenga scoring four runs while in the bowling figures, ZASTI’s Shatini got four wickets while George Mutale and Kateya Chakwanda both got two wickets.
In response, ZASTI managed to pass the score after scoring 32 runs to maintain the top slot on the league table and saw Shatini score five runs with LBTC’s Mulenga getting one wicket and gave away just one run in his bowling.
Meanwhile, the ZCU has cancelled the Week Two League games scheduled for today to allow students concentrate on their examinations.
ZCU president Reuben Chama said the games have been put off to allow players focus on their examinations at their various institutions and that the games will resume next weekend.
Chama said it is the union’s desire to see that cricket was played at all levels starting at primary, secondary and university level as that is the pathway for developing players.
“With this programme, cricket will never die because students at primary, secondary and universities are well exposed to game, it’s a pathway for the students and it will also help to cover for the limited spaces in the senior league,” he said.