The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) concluded their historic return to Zimbabwe – their first visit to the country in 60 years – with a T20 series victory over the Zimbabwe Academy at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare’s Highfield suburb on Wednesday.
The English side’s tour marked a significant moment for Zimbabwean cricket, rekindling ties with one of the game’s oldest institutions.
MCC began their seven-match schedule last week with two T20s and a 50-over match against provincial side Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club, before facing Zimbabwe ‘A’ in a three-day contest at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare.
They rounded off the trip with a three-match T20 series against the Zimbabwe Academy at Takashinga – the heartland of township cricket and a venue steeped in national cricketing heritage.
The closely contested series produced moments of flair and resilience from both sides.
MCC won the rain-affected opener on Tuesday morning, the Zimbabwe Academy bounced back with a thrilling last-ball victory in the afternoon, before the visitors sealed the decider on Wednesday to complete a memorable tour.
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Zimbabwe Academy – 88-6 in 10 overs (Ashley Mufandauya 27, Munashe Chimusoro 22*, Tashinga Makoni 17; Michael Frost 2/12, Ben Allison 2/15, Mo Rizvi 1/17)
Marylebone Cricket Club – 89-2 in 9 overs (Will Smale 28, Simon Fernandes 24*, Sam Athurton 23*; Jimmy Nyangoni 2/11)
Marylebone Cricket Club won by eight wickets
The opening T20 match between the Zimbabwe Academy and MCC at Takashinga on Tuesday morning was delayed by an hour due to a damp outfield and reduced to 10 overs a side.
MCC went on to win by eight wickets with an over to spare.
Put in to bat, the Academy suffered an early collapse, losing four wickets for 29 runs within four overs – two of them to Ben Allison in successive deliveries.
Opener Ashley Mufandauya provided some stability with 27 off 20 balls before falling to Michael Frost from the penultimate delivery of the innings.
Tashinga Makoni (17 off 12) and Munashe Chimusoro (22 not out off 13) offered useful support as the Academy posted a modest 80 for six.
Frost and Allison were the standout bowlers, both taking two wickets apiece for 12 and 15 runs respectively in their two-over spells.
In reply, MCC were in command from the outset.
Sam Arthurton and captain Will Smale added 43 for the first wicket inside five overs before Smale was stumped for 28 off 18 balls off Jimmy Nyangoni.
The same bowler later had Billy Mead caught for nine to make it 55 for two in the seventh over.
However, Simon Fernandes finished the job in style with an unbeaten 24 off 11 balls, while Arthurton remained not out on 23, steering MCC home comfortably with an over to spare.
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Marylebone Cricket Academy – 120-9 in 20 overs (Ben Allison 31*, Sam Athurton 31, Billy Mead 23; Arineshto Vhezha 3/17, Webster Madhidhi 2/30, Wishnenzy Chapfombo 1/20)
Zimbabwe Academy – 121-8 in 19.5 overs (Ronak Patel 46*, Ryan Kamwemba 26, Ashley Mufandauya 12; Mo Rizvi 2/12, Ben Allison 2/21, Darren Ironside 1/23)
Zimbabwe Academy won by two wickets
A magnificent unbeaten 46 by Ronak Patel propelled the Zimbabwe Academy to a thrilling, last-gasp victory over MCC in the second T20 at Takashinga on Tuesday afternoon, winning with just one delivery to spare.
MCC, sent in to bat, made a disastrous start as both openers Will Smale and Simon Fernandes fell for ducks – caught off the bowling of Arineshto Vhezha and Webster Madhidhi respectively.
The tourists recovered through Billy Mead (23) and Sam Arthurton (31), but the middle order failed to capitalise, leaving them reeling at 92 for eight in the 18th over.
A late cameo from Ben Allison (31 not out off 20) lifted MCC to 120 for nine by the close of the innings.
Vhezha finished with three for 17 in four overs, while Madhidhi took two for 30.
Impressively, both bowlers sent down a maiden over – a rare feat in T20 cricket.
The Academy’s reply began shakily, losing Victor Chirwa for just two.
Ryan Kamwemba chipped in with 26 off 24 balls, but at 73 for six in the 15th over, MCC appeared on course for another win.
Patel, however, had other ideas.
With wickets tumbling around him, he kept his composure and brought the game to a nail-biting finish.
When Alistair Frost was handed the final over, the Academy needed 16 runs with two wickets in hand – and Patel on strike.
He began with two twos, then launched the third ball for a huge six over extra cover.
Two more runs followed before he cracked the fifth delivery through the same region for the winning boundary.
Patel finished unbeaten on 46 off 36 balls, striking one six and three fours, as the Academy clinched a famous win to level the series.
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Marylebone Cricket Club – 171-6 in 20 overs (Alistair Frost 34*, Ben Allison 30, Sam Athurton 29; Ryan Simbi 2/20, Victor Chirwa 2/30, Tatenda Chimugoro 2/32)
Zimbabwe Academy – 148 all out in 19.5 overs (Ronak Patel 43, Panashe Taruvinga 37, Victor Chirwa 32; Blessing Mangove 2/3, Mo Rizvi 2/29, Darren Ironside 2/37)
Marylebone Cricket Club won by 23 runs
Despite another solid innings from Ronak Patel, MCC wrapped up their tour of Zimbabwe with a 23-run victory over the Zimbabwe Academy in the final T20 at Takashinga on Wednesday.
Batting first, MCC were given a bright start by openers Will Smale and Sam Arthurton, who put on 54 runs in just 5.2 overs for the first wicket.
Four wickets then tumbled for 74 – two of them in one over from Victor Chirwa – before Alistair Frost (34 not out off 24 balls) and Ben Allison (30 off 18) staged a valuable recovery to guide MCC to a competitive 171 for six in their 20 overs.
Ryan Simbi was the pick of the Academy bowlers with two for 20 in four tidy overs, while Chirwa claimed two for 30.
The Academy’s chase got off to a disastrous start when Ashley Mufandauya was run out before facing a delivery in the opening over.
Chirwa (32) and Simba Mudzengerere (16) tried to steady the innings, but the scoreboard pressure mounted as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Panashe Taruvinga gave the hosts hope with a brisk 37 off 23 balls, but when he was bowled by Michael Frost at 132 for five in the 17th over, 40 runs were still needed from the final three overs.
Patel battled hard for 43 off 42 balls before being run out, but his effort wasn’t enough as the Academy were bowled out for 148 off the penultimate delivery.
Mo Rizvi took two for 29, while Blessing Mangove struck twice in the final over – with successive deliveries – to close out the match and the series for MCC.
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