Union Sports Development team has vowed to mount a determined chase of silverware in the Division C of the on-going Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) League, after enjoying a winning run in the latest matches.

Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA)

The team, which is a third string outfit of domestic top flight cricket giants, Union Sports Club, stretched its winning run in recent games with a convincing four-wicket victory over Annadil Burhani Development squad in a match played at the latter’s backyard earlier this week.

The win looks to have inspired a strong sense of determination among Union Sports Development youngsters, who not feel winning the trophy in the division is a task that can be fulfilled. Abbas Virjee, who is the Union Sports Development’s dependable all rounder, disclosed to the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ that the desire by him and his team-mates to go all the way and lift the trophy has never been that much high, as it is the case presently and the team feels the target can be duly realized.

“Yes, we can win the league as we now need one more win to go to the final,” he said after the match against Annadil Burhani Development.  “Seeing our form, we can do it…we are working pretty hard and hope to do it,” he added.  Virjee, whose contribution to the team’s success has always been coming in handy, put in yet another classic all round performance against Annadil Burhani Development to steer his side to the crucial victory.

He scored ten runs and took four wickets as Union Sports Development successfully chased a 106-run target set by Annadil Burhani Development and in the process, compounded misery to the latter. Other Union Sports Development players that impressed with the bat were Shamil Hameer (17 runs) and Mohammad Musa (12 runs), while Minhaal Nathoo also had a fantastic day with the ball for the team after finishing his bowling spell with three wickets.

“We need to improve our batting as batting collapse sometimes is really an issue. But now we have worked on it and it has been better,” added Virjee.  Virjee sees TCA U-17 squad as the only threat to Union Sports Development’s chances to lay hands on the top honour, but still believes his side has the guts to get the better of the former, who are so far among the league favourites.

“Till now, TCA U-17 team has been our toughest opponents but we have beaten them once, so we can do it once again,” he said. TCA has organized the league, which is played annually, with a view to promoting the sport among domestic youth, apart from using the event to identify players for national teams.

By JAPHETH KAZENGA, Tanzania Daily News