National Sports

Destroyers vow to defy odds in FMB Cricket

Despite wearing the underdog tag and being paired against defending champions Anchor Industries in the FMB Mpingwe Sports Club (MSC) T20 Cricket semi-finals at the MSC this Sunday, KU Destroyers have vowed to defy odds.

This is the first time that Destroyers, the only side comprising indigenous players to reach this far out of three in the 16-team competition, are featuring in the semi-final of any domestic competition, but the team’s captain Gift Kamsonkho said their confidence outweighs the obstacles that stand in their way to glory.

Cricket action during the quarterfinals last weekend
Cricket action during the quarterfinals last weekend

“We are labelled as underdogs and we are facing the defending champions in this semi-final, but that does not stop us from thinking about glory this Sunday because we are determined to book our first ever ticket to the final,” Kamsonkho said.

Destroyers reached the last-four stage after beating Crown Pharmaceuticals by five runs in the quarter-finals last weekend. They made 142 runs against 137 runs. Their all-rounder Dickson Matiya emerged as the best performer after making 53 runs and claiming four wickets in the encounter.

Nevertheless, Anchor Industries’ captain Umar Shehzad, whose side booted Electra Sales out of the competition by 54 runs after making a total of 164 runs, said they will do anything possible to get on the right track to title defence.

He said with in-form cricketers such as Shani Hussein, who contributed a century to Anchor’s quarterfinal victory against Electra Sales, they do not see any team that can stop them from getting into the final and reclaiming the crown.

In the other semi-final at the MSC, Fattani Printers will face EazyPack. Fattani made it after beating Conforzi Plantations 145-84 runs in the quarterfinals while EazyPack triumphed over Deekay Suppliers by seven wickets.

FMB head of marketing Sylvia Mataka said they are happy with the performance of the teams and the conduct of the players in the contest. While thanking FMB for bankrolling the annual knockout event, MSC sports director Abdul Wahab Jagot also appreciated support from team sponsors. n

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