Zanzibar sweep Arusha in Schools Cricket clash

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PUPILS sing the national anthem during the opening ceremony of the Inter-Primary School Games in Iringa on Tuesday. The annual event brings together regional teams to compete across various sports, serving as a vital platform for talent identification and scouting. (Photo by a Correspondent)

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR produced commanding displays in both the boys and girls’ cricket matches against Arusha during the ongoing interprimary school games at Lugalo Cricket Ground in Iringa.

The girls’ team opened the winning run on Wednesday with a seven-run victory before the boys followed on yesterday with a crushing 93-run triumph to complete a clean sweep for Zanzibar. In the girls’ match, Zanzibar recovered from a shaky middle order spell to post 68 for four in their 10 overs.

Miza Ame Abdalla held the innings together with an unbeaten 19 from 24 balls after Zanzibar lost two wickets on the same score in the fifth over. Amria Sharif Said gave the innings an early push with 11 runs, while captain Badria Abdalla Abdillah added eight before Arusha bowlers pulled the game back.

Lilian Aizack led the resistance for Arusha with three wickets in two overs, repeatedly breaking partnerships and slowing the scoring rate. Despite the modest total, Zanzibar defended strongly with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Arusha never fully settled in the chase after losing Carren Gaudene early.

Caroline Patrick tried to keep the innings alive with an unbeaten 20, while Sabrina Hashimu contributed 10 runs, but wickets at key moments kept Arusha behind the required rate. Captain Badria Abdalla Abdillah and Miza Ame Abdalla each claimed a wicket as Zanzibar tightened control in the middle overs.

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Two run-outs in the closing stages further damaged Arusha’s chase as they finished on 61 for five. Thursday boys’ contest was far more one-sided as Zanzibar dominated from the first over.

Openers Rajab Kombo Muhamadi and Seif Issa Abdallah tore through the Arusha bowling attack in a fearless batting display that carried Zanzibar to 156 without loss in 10 overs. Rajab struck 75 from 32 balls with nine fours and five sixes, while Seif blasted 70 from 28 deliveries, clearing the boundary six times.

The pair attacked almost every loose delivery and never allowed Arusha’s bowlers to settle into rhythm. Arusha struggled to contain the scoring, with every bowler conceding heavily as boundaries continued to flow throughout the innings.

Chasing 157 was always going to demand a strong start, but Arusha lost an early wicket and failed to build momentum. Baraka Elias fought hard for his 33 runs and Karimu Shabani remained unbeaten on 16, yet the required run rate kept climbing beyond reach.

Zanzibar’s bowlers remained disciplined despite defending a large total. Samir Juma Said picked up a wicket while the fielders backed up the bowling effort with a sharp run-out that further slowed Arusha’s response.

By the end of the innings, Arusha had managed 63 for two, leaving Zanzibar to celebrate a dominant 93-run victory and complete an impressive double over their rivals in Iringa.