Challengers win Zaaffran & Blueberry Hotel T20 opener

The 2013 Zaaffran & Blueberry Hotel T20 tournament kicked off at the weekend with three matches played, one in the women and two in the men’s categories on Saturday and Sunday respectively at Kicukiro Cricket Oval.

Tuesday, October 08, 2013
VCC players Andre Kayitera and Eric Dusabemungu comteplate the next move during Sunday's game. Times Sport/ Courtesy.

The 2013 Zaaffran & Blueberry Hotel T20 tournament kicked off at the weekend with three matches played, one in the women and two in the men’s categories on Saturday and Sunday respectively at Kicukiro Cricket Oval.On Saturday, defending champions Queens of Victory Cricket Club (QVCC) started their campaign on a wrong note, losing to their archrivals White Clouds Cricket Club (WCCC).QVCC batted first and posted a paltry 56 runs for a loss of four wickets in 20 overs and in replay WCCC reached the target of 57 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 13.1 overs."Although it was a small score, our bowlers tried had and got 7 wickets but the damage had already been done in batting,” said QVCC’s Dianne Bimenyimana, who was run out on 5 runs. WCCC star player Iriho Veronique took them home after making 11 runs not out.In the Men’s category, Challengers CC beat a spirited Victory CC by 5 runs in a thriller that went in to a super over. Ed Pearson the new VCC signing scored 81 runs to help them post 137 runs. The game went in to a tie when CCC also put on 137 runs all out. In the super over CCC batted first in and  scored 14 runs and VCC only managed 10 runs.In the afternoon game, in-form batsmen Eric Dusingizimana (91 runs) and Siboniyo Jeanclaude (49 runs) had a 117 run partnership that helped Right Guards CC post a record 186/2. Clinton Rubagumya’s 5 wicket haul and Siboniyo’s 3 wickets damaged Telugu CC batting line up with only Ndangamyambi Eric (18 runs) getting a double figure. TCC lost the game by 108 runs.