A Swaziland U-17 cricket team hosted their Mozambique counterparts on Saturday December 10 at the Malkerns Club grounds.
Mozambique won the toss and sent the home side into bat on a very soggy pitch. Despite the conditions they batted well to score 118 runs all out in the 29th over.This was also due to some superb fielding from the Mozambique side who had obviously practiced hard for this encounter. ( The top scorer was extras with 19, followed by Vuyani with 16.)
The opposition came out after lunch and a brief shower of rain needing 119 runs to win. They started with a good opening partnership but were soon under pressure with some tight bowling. Wickets started to tumble and one thought the game had begun to slip away. This however, was not the case as Giovanni single handedly turned the game back in favour of the visitors. His luck ran out though in the 28th over when he holed out to mid on.(He top scored with 30runs) Mozambique finished up with 100 runs, loosing by 18 runs to the Swazi team.
Both teams played in the spirit of the game and did themselves and their countries proud. Jason Wade was named man of the match with his bowling performance of three wickets for seventeen runs.
Swaziland will be travelling to Mozambique early in the new year.