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Mathew Masinge Cool Sports Writer
St Aiden’S Primary are the winners of the inaugural Ramah Winter Bowl Zimbabwe Junior Twenty20 Cricket tournament after beating Zengeza Four by six wickets at the school in Chitungwiza.

In a tightly contested match St Aiden’s fielded brilliantly much to the discomfort of their bitter rivals’ challenge who won the toss and opted to bat first.

Although the all-child side was made up of 10, 11 and 12-year-olds, fielding on the pitch was no joke, the team did enough to hold their opponents to an easy 74 runs for the loss of four wickets after 10 overs.

After the much desired break, St Aiden’s played like champions by showing their opponents how the batting business is done.

Young Simbarashe Murumbi who made an easy 37 runs from 16 balls was their talisman for the day by helping his side score 75 runs and sparing six wickets after 8,3 overs to deny Zengeza 4 the title.

In an interview with Cool Lifestyle, young Simbarashe could not hide his joy after holding the trophy for the first time.

“We are happy to win this trophy as a team because this shows that we had prepared well for the tournament. I thank our coach, the tournament organisers for giving us this opportunity and the rest of the team for a good fight, we really deserved this title,” he said.

Despite being on the losing side, young Takudzwa Mazhiriri (Zengeza 4) who was voted the best batsman having scored more than half a century said they will work hard on the next tourney.

“We had a few silly mistakes that we allowed as a team and at the end of the day we were punished for not bating all the loose balls, but all the same we will work more on our batting skills and promise a more thrilling encounter next time we meet with St Aiden’s,” he said.

The tournament which was co-hosted by St Aiden’s Primary in Seke (unit M) and Tangenhamo Primary in Zengeza had other participants including Zengeza 4 Primary, Glen View 1 Primary, Fungisai Primary, North Park Primary and Alfred Biet Primary.

In the third and fourth place play-offs Fungisai Primary beat Tangenhamo by 8 wickets in 6,3 overs after the losers had set the chase at 64 runs for five wickets in 10 overs. Tadiwa Mudziviri (from Tangenhamo) scored 23 runs from 17 balls slightly lower than his unbeaten 42 against the same team in the group stages. Panashe Bvundura (from Fungisai) scored 38 from 16 balls.

The tournament director Cromen Zinyama said the junior tourney will go a long way.

“This is just the beginning of greater things to come, the Trust intends to spread and introduce the game in all rural areas of Zimbabwe. Recently we launched it in Chivi where we plan to have a provincial tournament similar to the one we did here,” he said.

Zinyama said the Trust has plans to send junior cricketers to play international academies.

“We have established ties with the Indian Premiere Corporate League, Falcons Cricket Academy, Great Cricket Steps Asia and other international accredited academies with which we will send our junior teams for twenty20 match series so that they can further their talent,” he said.

Awards

Best Batsman – Takudzwa Mazhiriri (Zengeza 4).

Best Bowler – Ashley Mufandauya (St. Aiden’s)

Best Fielder – Lennox Chando (St. Aiden’s).

Player of the Tournament – Naison Mare (St. Aiden’s).

Coach of the Tournament – Malcom Chikuhwa (St Aiden’s).

Most Organised Team – Glen View 1.

Most Improved School – Alfred Beit.

Most Promising school – North Park.