Tanzania's case for Associate Membership of the ICC boosted (19 Nov 1999)

18 November 1999

Tanzania's case for Associate Membership of the ICC boosted

Tanzania's case for Associate Membership of the International Cricket Council was boosted by Tanzania Giraffes' win in the annual East and Central Africa Cricket Council tournament held in Dar Es Salaam in early October.

The Giraffes' unbeaten run completed a successful tournament for the Tanzania Cricket Association, which, "Cricket Around The World" has been told by officials of visiting countries, conducted a well administered tournament.

The event was hit by the exclusion of ICC Associate Member, Uganda, which wanted the tournament delayed. The ECACC Secretariate determined that the Championship should be held on October 1-3. Subsequently, Tanzania's national team was split into two teams, the Tanzania 'Giraffes' and 'Lions'. They were joined by Malawi and Zambia.

The series started on October 1 with Tanzania Giraffes and Malawi meeting at the Annadil Burhani Ground and Zambia facing Tanzania Lions at the Kinondoni Ground.

Malawi won the toss and chose to bat first against the Giraffes. Majid Sarigat (26) and Ashraf Gaffar (24) put on a healthy opening partnership before Malawi lost two quick wickets.

Vice-Captain, Altaf Panjwani (38), remained solid during a middle order collapse but eventually ran out of partners.

The Malawian batsmen struggled to adjust to the astroturf, eventually being dismissed for 152 in 48 overs.

After struggling early against opening bowlers, Shiraz Faruk and Shaurep Parekh, the Tanzania Giraffes raced to victory, scoring 153-5 from 30 overs.

The Giraffes were steered home by Young Viru and Shamsher, helped by a steady flow of wides from the Malawian bowlers.

The Giraffes' Shamas Madhani was named Man-of-the-Match.

Meanwhile, at the Kinondoni Ground, Zambia scraped home by one wicket against Tanzania Lions. The Lions' were all-out for 166 before Zambia made 167-9 in 49 overs.

Zambia's Greg Geldenhus was named Man-of-the-Match.

The next day, at the Annadil Burhani ground, Zambia maintained its unbeaten record, scoring 204-8 in its 50 overs before skittling Malawi for 120 all-out. Malawi's reply faltered early, with both openers gone at 34 off six overs. Again Vice-Captain, Panjwani was a steadying influence for Malawi, combining with captain Rizvaan Osman in a 44 run partnership.

Kevin Cummings (Zambia) snared the Man-of-the-Match award.

While this was happening, the two home teams met at the Kinondoni Ground. Tanzania Giraffes struck 224-7 off its allotted overs before dismissing the Lions for 182.

Giraffes captain, Viru Kamania took the best player award.

The final day, October 3, was Championship day with the clash of the two undefeated teams, Tanzania Giraffes and Zambia while Malawi and Tanzania Lions battled to avoid the wooden spoon.

Giraffes' skipper, Viru Kamania, showed a sense of occasion by remaining unbeaten to score the tournament's only century in the Giraffes' 275-6 off its 50 overs. Akil Rana then sealed the Championship for the Giraffes taking six Zambian wickets to reduce Zambia to 172 all-out.

Tanzania Lions took third place with an 86 run win over Malawi. Lions' made 196-8 from 50 overs before removing Malawi for 110. Lions' Shamshuddin was named Man-of-the-Match.

The Tanzania Minister for Education and Culture, Prof. Juma Kapuya, was the chief guest and presented the trophy to the winning side.

STANDINGS Played Won Lost Points Tanzania Giraffes 3 3 0 6 Zambia 3 2 1 4 Tanzania Lions 3 1 2 2 Malawi 3 0 3 0

Best Batsman - Shamsher Madhani (T.Giraffes) (115 runs) Best Bowler - Shamshuddin Fidahussein (T.Lions) (9 wickets) Man of the Series - Viru Kamania (T.Giraffes) (172 runs) (3 wickets)

The squads were: (A) denotes Tanzania first team players- GIRAFFES: Viru Kamania (Capt) (A) Yakesh Patel (A), Shamsher Madhani (A), Akber Khan, Ahmed Sumar (A), Ayjaz Jessani, Harish Patel, Frank Oshea, Arif Mohamed, Aziz Paliwalla (A), Akil Raja, Paras, Hanif Bandali, Muffadal Salem; Kutbuddin Dossajee (Coach/Manager). LIONS: Salim Akber (A), Subira Hussain (A), Paresh Kharawalla (A), Anand Acharya, Hasnain Khalfan, Hiren Patel, Shakir Gomberawalla (A), Shamshuddin Fidahussein (A), Aliasger Janowalla, Hitesh Valambia (A), Taheri Jiwaji (A), Ali Virani, Milan Pandya, Hamid Shariff (A); Babulal Chudasama (Manager). ZAMBIA: Anshad Dhudia (Capt), Markus Pieterse, Yusuf Dasu, Firoz Munshi, Essau Mammu, Kevin Cummings, Antony Barker, Karl Erick, Karl van Blerk, Brian Vermaak, Greg Geldunhus, Prince Saluja, Kamal Rupasinghe; Tom McCarthy (official), J. Gildenhus (Team Manager), Younus Issa (Umpire). MALAWI: Ridhwan Osman (Capt), Altaf Panjwani, Shiraz Farouk, Ashraf Gaffar, Munir Omar, Majid Sarigat, Suhail Osman, Maqsood Patel, Nassir Khan, Shabbir Malida, Saurobh Parekh, Rupesh Patel, Jay Anand, Yaseen Junejo; Vali Tarmohamed (Manager/Player), Furhan Faruk (Official), Rafiq Vali Mohamed (Umpire).