The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
KYLE College will not defend their title at the Petra High School Twenty20 cricket tournament set for Bulawayo on Friday and Saturday.
The Masvingo-based school was unable to commit to participating in the 7th edition of the event, which was initially supposed to be staged early this month due to other commitments. The tournament was re-scheduled due to heavy rains that left the pitches at Petra waterlogged.
Midlands Christian College have since taken up Kyle College’s place in the eight team tournament.
Last year Kyle College hammered Churchill High from Harare by eight wickets. The win saw Kyle put an end to dominance by schools from the capital who had won the tournament since 2010.
Petra High School sports director Themba Phiri, who also doubles up as the tournament convener, said all was in place for the two-day event to go ahead without any glitches.
“We have covers to cover the wickets, the weather forecast says it is going to rain early in the week, even if it does it won’t disrupt us,’’ said Phiri.
Pool A is made up of Churchill, Christian Brothers College, Prince Edward as well as Hellenic while MCC, Petra, Eaglesvale and Milton will make up Pool B.
Winners of the tournament will walk away with the Comarton Consultants floating trophy while the Petra shield is in store for the runners-up. The Sharne Mayers trophy will be awarded to the best player at the event.
Mayers, who was in 2010 Petra first team, is a member of the women’s national cricket team who turned out for the boys team due to lack of opportunities in girls’ cricket.
There would also be individual accolades for the most outstanding bowler, batsman, fielder and the player who takes the best catch during the tournament.
The awards are named after Saleem Manuel, the 2010 Petra first team vice-captain whose parents Moideen and Magdelene continue to sponsor the awards despite their son having left the school.
Some of the players who had featured in the Petra Twenty20 and are now playing in the country’s domestic franchise structures are the Matabeleland Tuskers quartet of Godwill Mamhiyo (Falcon College), Bruce Sibanda, Dalubuhle Mboyi (both Milton), Luke Jongwe (Prince Edward) as well as Mashonaland Eagles wicketkeeper Joylord Gumbie, formerly with Churchill.
