Academy round up: Tourists lose for the first time

Zimbabwe’s Rising Stars notched a satisfying win in the Greater Manchester Wednesday League last week, although fell to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of Myerscough’s Old Trafford-based academy the following day.

On Tuesday at Disley CC, the Rising Stars came up against a well-drilled Kingsway Rickshaw outfit, containing Pakistani first-class player Akbar-ur-Rehman. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the tourists were in trouble after some impressive pace bowling from Faiz Azam saw them two wickets down in the fourth over. Faraz Akram and Ryan Burl were the batsmen dismissed, both without scoring.

The recovery was led by Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and Brandon Mavuta, who scored 40 and 44 respectively. Wicket keeper Tafadzwa Tsiga contributed a valuable 50 not out as the tourists recovered to 178-7 from their 25 overs.

In reply, all-rounder Faraz took a wicket with his first ball, bowling opener Ikram for nought. However Akbar, the outstanding batsman in his side, was in dominant form and he added 80 runs for the second wicket with Asif, before the latter fell lbw to Mavuta’s leg-spin.

Rickshaw’s batsman continued to press, led by Akbar, although the introduction of Kuziva Ziwira and Tendai Nyamayaro saw both pace bowlers claim two quick wickets. Seemingly back in control, the Rising Stars came under pressure from Butt, who struck four boundaries in a rapid innings, although he was removed by an outstanding running catch from Burl off the bowling of Mumba. Mumba also took the key wicket of Akbar, with Rickshaw eventually dismissed for 157, giving the Rising Stars a hard-fought 21 run win.

The following day, at Ashton-on-Mersey’s picturesque ground, the tourists donned the whites to play a timed, one-innings match against the Myerscough College (Old Trafford) academy. The young side, containing a number of Lancashire age group and 2nd XI players, proved a stern test for the the tourists culminating in their first defeat of the trip.

Batting first, the visitors found it tough going against the excellent line and length bowling of Cameron Smith and Josh Fellows. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe played a watchful, patient innings and for a while was supported by skipper Taffy Mupariwa, before he was bowled round his legs by Smith.

Musakanda and Tsiga did not make an impression this time around, although Thamsanqa Nunu did with a number of flowing drives and boundary hits. However, in what became a familiar pattern, he did not make good on his promising start, falling for 33 to the bowling of Fellows.

Kamunhukamwe was eventually dismissed (26) and Faraz Akram made a useful 22, although all-in-all it was a disappointing innings from the Rising Stars, coupled with some excellent, accurate bowling from Myerscough. Change bowler Will Shuttleworth underlined this with a hat-trick to finish of the tourist’s innings, taking the wickets of Mumba, Nyathi and Magarira to reduce them to 113 all out.

The Myerscough innings got off to a confident start, with two boundaries off Carl Mumba in the first over. Mumba and Blessing Muzarabani both bowled pacy opening spells and were initially unable to make the breakthrough, until Muzarabani tempted Lawton to edge to wicket keeper Tsiga.

Left-arm spinner Rugare Magarira was introduced to great effect, taking two wickets for 16 runs. And with Mkhululi Nyathi chipping in with a brace, a low-scoring thriller was on the cards! However, despite a further scalp for Mumba, Myerscough patiently knocked off the required total in 32 overs.

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This week’s matches:

Tuesday 30th May: v Northamptonshire 2nd XI (Desborough CC)
Wednesday 31st May: Karachi Kites (Disley CC)
Thursday 1st June: Future Stars Academy (Northern CC)