Morogoro squad holds sway in2023 TCA National Women's Bilateral Series

The showdown, as per the TCA information officer Atif Salim, served as an opportunity for the senior national women's cricket team to shape up for the 2023 Victoria Cup to be held in Uganda early next month.

Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and host Morogoro took part in the series that took place at Morogoro's Usagara ground and Tanga's Annadil Burhani ground, with all girls putting impressive showing seeking to make it to the senior national team.

Each of the participating outfits featured in four matches, with Morogoro and Tanga emerging as forces to reckon with having won three out of their respective four clashes.

Morogoro Women's Combine, ultimately, topped the showdown table based on having a better net run rate.

The triumphant female cricketers notched a 1.0498 net run rate from three wins and one loss, posting 511 runs and giving away 439 runs.

Second-placed Tanga Women's Combine collected the 0.7049 net run rate from the three victories and one loss, notching 522 runs and giving away 456 runs.

Dar es Salaam Women's Combine, which had victory in two matches and a loss in as many encounters, took third place having notched the 0.4621 net run rate, amassing 404 runs and giving away 409 runs.

Bottom-placed Women's Combine recorded the -2.3408 net run rate having lost all four duels, ending with scoring 379 runs and giving away 512 runs.

In the Morogoro Women's Combine exploits, the female cricketers commanded a resounding six-wicket victory over the other favourites, Tanga Women's Combine, at Annadil Burhani ground in Tanga.

The Sophia Frank-led Tanga Women's Combine took the crease first, notching 114/5 in the scheduled 20 overs.

The squad's opening batter, Jenipher Gabriel, and Swaumu Deo, slotted in at number three, had the best batting figures for their squad.

Jenipher was the batter with the most runs having ended with 31 runs which included one four, stepping up once fellow batter Swaumu Godfrey turned into a victim of early dismissal.

Swaumu, one of the dependable all-rounders, had a frustrating stint at the crease given she ended six runs short of a two-digit figure, having executed mere five knocks. 

The otherwise no-nonsense cricketer was caught by Morogoro Women's Combine's wicketkeeper, Hudaa Mrisho, from Tabu Saidi's bowling.

Swaumu Deo put good shots to show and notched 25 runs which included one four, Sophia finished with the bat in hand after recording 19 runs not out.

The skipper had an unbeaten spell with Rahma Yahya. Rahma chipped in with two runs not out.

Two other players, Nasra Nassoro and Mwanamvua Hamisi, also contributed two-digit figures and to some extent boosted the team's total. The experienced Nasra recorded 13 runs and Mwanamvua posted 12 runs.

Morogoro Women's Combine's bowlers Hudaa, Fatuma Omary, Tabu, and Martha Kalisti had one wicket each in their respective four-over stints.

Needing 115 runs to emerge victorious, Morogoro Women's Combine cricketers showcased their batting prowess, recording 115/4 in 18.1 overs. 

Opener Fatuma catapulted the team to the win with a solid performance, having ended two runs short of a half-century.

The all-rounder blasted three boundaries in her stint that was brought to an end by Tanga Women's Combine's Sophia after 17.5 overs.

The equally experienced Mwanaidi Ammy was also impressive at the crease, given the batter posted 28 runs. 

Malizia Salum was the other batter with a two-digit figure for the batting outfit, as the cricketer posted 12 runs.

Morogoro Women's Combine was made up of skipper Fatuma Omary, Swaumu Adolf, Latifa Ally, Shania Fikiri, Asha Ally, Donisia Helment, Martha Kalisti, and Hudaa Mrisho.  

Others are Malizia Salum, Shufaa Hamza, Mwanaidi Amy, Doris Helment, Zulfa Hussein, Tabu Said, Sheila Shamte, and Sonia Chachala.

Tanga Women's Combine had Halima Gota, Saidat Simba, Rahma Yahya, Aisha Sheikh, Maisara Musa, Salha Abdallah, Mwanamvua Hamisi, and Halima Mohamed.

Mwanaidi Sufiani, Mwanaidi Mohamed, Mwanaidi Amani, Swaumu Deo, Jenipher Gabriel, Swaumu Godfrey, Nasra Nassoro, and skipper Sophia Frank are the team's other cricketers.

Dar es Salaam Women's Combine was made up of Catherine Dominick, Mwapwani Ally, Happy George, Winfrida Kelvin, Zuhura Masoud, Fatuma Yusuf, Zena Hassan, and Fat'ha Salumu. 

Sharifa Rashid, Swaumu Aziz, Nasra Hamza, Monica Paschal, Perice Zakayo, Lightness Eliud, Mwajuma Matheo, and skipper Neema Justine complete the list.

Players making Arusha Women's Combine are skipper Aisha Mohamed, Mary Simon, Glory Jackson, Zamda Maulid, Nasra Ramadhan, Nasra Miraji, Lucy Raymond, and Englid Geoffrey.  

Gertrude Mushi, Rebecca Martin, Mary Justine, Sabrina Salim, Josephine Ulirk, Agness Joseph, Farida Amiry, and Mariam Hussein are the squad's other cricketers.