From The Pavilion

Great work guys!!!!

Congrats on the win guys, awesome achievement!

Batsmen

Lepho Charumbira (Staindrop Rockets)
Stefanus Coetzee (The Collywobblers)
Etienne Holt (NDLegends)
Lynton Mott (Harare Hammers)
Trevor Rhule (The Collywobblers)
Hamilton Baloyi (Tesco Team Leaders)
Chris Smit (Kent International CC)

Keepers

Ngonidzashe Masekela (Kent International CC)
Mandy Pratt (Kent International CC)

Bowlers

Kelper Baldwin (Old Chelmsfordians)
Rikki Koertzen (Staindrop Rockets)
Tichaona Mahlombe (African Warriors)
Viyusa Mbiri (Inuitowinit)
Malusi Gilchrist (VVV Cricket Club)
Tiger Janties (Berkshire CCC)
Ngonidzashe Bodibe (Old Chelmsfordians)
Oliver Chimusasa (Staindrop Lordies)
Baden Hohns (Staindrop Cheetahs)

Always happy to see two of my lads in the touring squad - although it leaves me pretty bare on the home front! Best get signing a few youngsters haha

Dont think you are alone...I lose 4 (not winning next week) .. thanks for your support

Well happy with retention...we didnt have the spinners to compete but still just missed promotion on NRR..thanks everyone

Batsmen

Lepho Charumbira (Staindrop Rockets)
Stefanus Coetzee (The Collywobblers)
Pietie Boyle (Staindrop Rockets)
Lynton Mott (Harare Hammers)
Trevor Rhule (The Collywobblers)
Hamilton Baloyi (Tesco Team Leaders)
Tonderai Ramage (VVV Cricket Club)

Keepers

Ngonidzashe Masekela (Kent International CC)
Mandy Pratt (Kent International CC)

Bowlers

Kelper Baldwin (Old Chelmsfordians)
Rikki Koertzen (Staindrop Rockets)
Gurshwin Johnston (Riddlers)
Kevin Masterson (The Krack'd)
Brian Mugeyi (Speightstown Hawksbills)
Tiger Janties (Berkshire CCC)
Meyrick Karppinen (Staindrop Cheetahs)
Oliver Chimusasa (Staindrop Lordies)
Baden Hohns (Staindrop Cheetahs)

Can I ask why Bodibe hasn't been picked in the squad?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining haha - means I'll actually have a bowler left at home! But just wondered

Cheers for your passion and you are right to question our decision. All our bowlers are slightly better at primaries although his expert fielding did throw him into consideration. We also needed slightly better batting for 20/20 so although no all rounders it does give us a longer batting lineup.

Kepler Baldwin not taking a wicket in 4 matches is delightfully on brand for the guy who is on paper the best bowler in my youth team and yet never produces the same performances as his competitors

Batsmen

Lepho Charumbira (Staindrop Rockets)
Denys Johns (The Lynch Ninjas)
Pietie Boyle (Staindrop Rockets)
Lynton Mott (Harare Hammers)
Innocent Sithole (Staindrop Village)
Hamilton Baloyi (Tesco Team Leaders)
Tonderai Ramage (VVV Cricket Club)

Keepers

Michael Makongola (Staindrop Cheetahs)
Mandy Pratt (Kent International CC)

Bowlers

Gerhardus Pettiford (Kent International CC)
Ruben Hickey (Staindrop Rockets)
Chris Kinloch (Locked On Lads)
Kevin Masterson (The Krack'd)
Brian Mugeyi (Speightstown Hawksbills)
Tiger Janties (Berkshire CCC)
Meyrick Karppinen (Staindrop Cheetahs)
Oliver Chimusasa (Staindrop Lordies)
Issac Maregwede (Staindrop Rockets)

It's time!

The world's brightest sparks duke it out in 50 over contests next week!

Our selected squad:

Chrysander Atkins (The Collywobblers)
Pietie Boyle (Staindrop Rockets)
Friday Chiyangwa (The Collywobblers)
Cephas Kambarami (Riddlers)
Lynton Mott (Harare Hammers)
Remembrance Mutendera (Staindrop Lordies)
Tonderai Ramage (VVV Cricket Club)

Randall Gartrell (Kent International CC)
Clyde Phelps (Billinghay Blockers)

Tokkie Chiesa (Harare Hammers)
Oliver Chimusasa (Staindrop Lordies)
Enoch Dunjwa (Billinghay Blockers)
Meyrick Karppinen (Staindrop Cheetahs)
Chris Kinloch (Locked on Lads)
Saturday Langdon (Old Chelmsfordians)
Wikus Leabeater (Takashinga Cricket Club)
Isaac Maregwede (Staindrop Rockets)
Esrom Takawira (Carpe Diem)

Good luck lads, we're behind you all the way

Matchday 1 sees the Zimbabwe U20's kick off the Division 2 campaign against the Netherlands, on a hot, dry pitch

https://fromthepavilion.org/commentary. ... Id=6758250

01) T. Ramage
02) R. Mutendera
03) P. Boyle
04) L. Mott
05) C. Atkins
06) R. Gartrell (wk)
07) O. Chimusasa
08) M. Karppinen
09) I. Maregwede
10) C. Kinloch (c)
11) E. Dunjwa

Netherlands U20 won the toss and elected to bat.

Netherlands U20 - 214-10 - 49.5 overs - W. van Rhijn (72) T. Winkels (53), I. Maregwede 10-1-25-1 C. Kinloch 10-0-44-2

- Our bowlers failed to take a wicket in the opening 25, with only a Boyle runout damaging the dream Dutch start of 106/1 at drinks.
- At drinks we utilized the football manager taunts of kicking chairs and throwing water bottles, which seemed to wake up our bowling attack!
- 172-8 with 40 overs down would have been a tough chase but possible. Frustratingly the Dutch tail wagged, getting them to the daunting total of 214-10.

Zimbabwe U20 - 178-10 - 42.2 overs - T. Ramage (66) C. Atkins (36), D. van der Sar 9-3-25-3 H. Paree 9-0-29-2

- After losing a wicket early, Ramage & Boyle helped manoeuvre the “Baby Zimmies” (Officially dubbed by president Madcarrot lol) to 88/1 after 15 overs, ahead of the runrate, ticking along nicely.
- We got to the 36th over at a crossroads. 159/5, 2 runs behind, one more wicket in hand compared to the Dutch innings.
- Unfortunately, we collapsed to 178 all out, losing 5 wickets whilst adding just 19 more runs, a savage collapse!

Netherlands U20 won by 36 runs

Zimbabwe U20 MR 174,701 Netherlands U20 MR 162,790

The match rating discrepancy highlights both the importance of winning the toss, and below par Zimbabwe performance.

Looking forward to the bounce back against Ireland tomorrow on an uneven pitch, tune in tomorrow!

Matchday 2 sees Zimbabwe U20’s take on Ireland U20’s, on a Hot, Uneven pitch.

https://fromthepavilion.org/commentary. ... Id=6758241

01) F. Chiyangwa
02) L. Mott
03) P. Boyle
04) C. Kambarami
05) R. Mutendera
06) R. Gartrell (wk)
07) W. Leabeater (c)
08) E. Takawira
09) O. Chimusasa
10) S. Langdon
11) T. Chiesa

Zimbabwe U20 won the toss and elected to bowl.

Ireland U20 - 276-6 – 50 overs - O. O'Byrne (56) M. Christie (50), T. Chiesa 10-0-47-2 E. Takawira 10-1-51-1

- We got the breakthrough earlier then yesterday, but again we allowed Ireland to stabilize. 108-2 at the halfway mark is a terrific platform to build off.
- Both teams struggled in the field thanks to the heat, with dropped catches and midfields preventing any collapses
- Despite gaining another wicket after drinks, 2 great partnerships before and after drinks, allowed Ireland to land in the 43rd over at 222-3, then hit out and score 276-6 after their 50 overs.

Zimbabwe U20 - 277-6 - 50 overs - L. Mott (82) C. Kambarami (76), S. Hourihane 10-1-38-2 C. Hogan 10-0-60-1

- Zimbabwe again lost a wicket early, resulting in a shaky start at 36-1 after 10 overs, the run rate just over 6 an over required.
- At the 40 over mark, I checked in and mentally was preparing to question if I was cursing / jinxing the team’s performance with these write ups. As Mott & Kambarami did a great job in sticking in both banging a couple of sixes in each of their innings, 110 runs needed from 14 overs seemed like a huge challenge.
- But with wickets in hand, the team put yesterdays collapse in the rearview mirror, stepped up, and smashed it, the last 8 overs especially! Scoring a 2 to win it on the last ball, would have seen every Zimbabwean yelling come home!! Right until they made back safely!

Zimbabwe U20 won by 4 wickets

Zimbabwe U20 MR 162,630 Ireland U20 MR 161,741

A phenomenal game, credit to both sets of players, to put on that type of show! In the heat, with the last ball potentially leading to all possible match results – Easily a match of the season candidate!

Next up we take on New Zealand tomorrow on a Slow pitch, Thanks for tuning in!