MSC Gold in historic final against Orange
Soheil Ital spurred spirited MSC Gold Fattani to their first finals of the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) 25 Overs Cricket Tournament on Sunday after bowling MSC Blue out of the semi-finals with a 144-44 runs thrashing at Mpingwe Sports Club (MSC).
Ital kept his team in the title hunt with an individual contribution of 68 runs whereas his captain Soheil Manjra claimed five wickets for the side to book their ticket into next Sunday’s finals against five-time champions MSC Orange. Orange beat MSC White with five wickets remaining.
Orange made 173 runs in just 24 Overs to chase down the 172 runs that MSC White sweated for in the entire 25 Overs.
However, MSC Gold Fattani’s Manjra said they are not intimidated by Orange’s predictable advantage of lifting a sixth consecutive trophy next weekend, saying his team is equally set to end its seven-year title drought.
“MSC Orange is a good team, but we will play like wounded buffaloes to get this particular trophy onto our mantelpiece. We are an improved side that has been fired up by team spirit and a boost from our sponsors,” said Manjra.
Orange coach Ayub Patel feels his side has all the strength to carry the day during the final which will start at 10am at MSC.
“We have defended the title back-to-back not by chance but because we are the best team in the country. We are not good at making colourful pre-match talk. Our speciality is doing the actual work in the cricket field,” said Patel.
