Africa-Press – Tanzania. NGORONGORO Titans’ mediocre show continued yesterday after losing their third straight match of the TCA Men’s Elite league at the hands of Tembo Warriors by 95 runs.
Tembo Warriors batted first to score 220 runs, dropping two wickets in the 50 overs match that took place at Leaders Club. The first inning was tense for the winners, using 210 minutes to set the target of 221 for Ngorongoro Titans to chase.
The losers, who also lost to Serengeti Giants and Kilimanjaro Aces in their recent matches, could not make a chase as their attempt just ended at 125 runs, the worst part of it was that they lost all their ten wickets to end their inning in the 36.1 overs after using just 143 minute in their inning.
Riziki Kiseto, who was selected as man of the match (not out) and Iva Ismail impressively scored a half century each for the winners.
Khalil Rehemtullah, one of the experienced players who plied skills in England did not supplement much of his skills for the winners as he was also sent out for him to score only 18 runs.
The losers earned most of their runs from Kheel Suchak who hit 32 from 84 balls Harsheed Chohan supplemented 19 others. Ngongoro Titans have therefore failed to secure points in their three recent matches.
They were beaten by Serengeti Giants by seven wickets in their midweek assignment. Tembo Warriors are leading the table with six points from three matches as Kilimanjaro Aces, Weren’t Warriors and Serengeti Giants are following with two points each.
“ The league is very tough considering to the fact that it features competent players,” “We truly deserve the best because we have not lost any match since we started,” said wicket keeper, Issa Kikasi, who was yesterday bowled out.
The participating teams feature mainly national team players, who have been split into all four teams. The league also features players who excel at different teams with a view to analyse their performances for their possible inclusion in the national teams.
The league is being played on a weekly basis as players will compete in day-long 50 overs match for them to gain more experience. It is also played during holidays.
The idea behind the introduced league was due to the fact that the national coach Kenyan Steve Tikolo needs to see local players be able to score highest score of runs so that to be able to compete against well drilled countries in the likes of Kenya, South Africa and Namibia during the ICC major tournaments.
The staging of the tournament is part of preparations for next year’s ICC major Qualifying series, which were put off this year because of Coronavirus pandemic.
Among others, Africa T20 World Cup Qualifiers-Africa regions expected to be held in South Africa in May. The World’s governing cricket body, ICC is likely to allow the resumption of cricket activities next year as the Coronavirus pandemic is likely to be under control.
