GEITA Boys have successfully got over a disappointing start in the 2025 Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Inter-Academy League-Group 3, walloping Mwanza Combine by 81 runs in Mwanza last week.

The Emmanuel Henry-led Geita Boys had begun the tournament on an embarrassing note, given that the cricketers went down to the same opponents by eight wickets.

In the second encounter between the two outfits, 

Geita Boys took the crease first and scored a hefty 150/3 in 20 overs.

 An early exit of team skipper Henry was hardly a letdown to Geita Boys because fellow cricketers, playing at the top of the batting order, put up a determined showing.

Henry fell victim to a brief stay, facing dismissal with two runs to his name and leaving a seemingly tricky duty of getting a better total to his teammates.

Samson Leonard, batting at number three, had the best outing with the bat, given that the youngster ended up with 44 runs.

Majaliwa Lushusha, who opened the innings with Henry, made up for the latter's less impressive spell by blasting 43 runs at a strike rate of 104.88.

There was moreover an equally solid showing with the bat by the other top-order batsman Ibrahim Twaha, who notched 32 runs not out at a strike rate of 128.00.

Mwanza Combine bowling unit's 29 extras conceded, further, aided Geita Boys' quest for an imposing total.

Phillip Juma took 2-35 in his four-over quota in the only worthy showing when Mwanza Combine fielded.

Getting down to a successful chase turned out to be a tall order for Mwanza Combine, despite playing in their backyard, given the cricketers faltered with just 69/10 in 15.5 overs.

Team skipper Isaac John and opener Emmanuel Jacob, ultimately, remained as the cricketers with two digits in a woeful outing at the crease by the squad.

The team skipper posted 14 runs at a strike rate of 77.78 and Jacob scored 11 runs for the Mwanza players.

The batting squad's resoluteness waned when John left the crease upon the completion of the ninth over, with the team having reached 49-7.

Twaha led Geita Boys' successful plan to stifle the chase launched by Mwanza Combine, having grabbed 3-10 in his four overs.

There were, moreover, impressive contributions by fellow bowlers, Fidelis Abel and Henry, given they ended up with two wickets apiece.

 Abel boasted 2-7 in two overs, ending up with a 3.50 economy rate for Geita Boys.

Henry made up for his dismal batting by putting up a spirited bowling and completed the day with 2-15.

 The TCA is taking charge of the 2025 Inter-Academy League- Group 3, aiming to step up efforts to raise the standards of domestic cricket.

The league, which has brought together four Lake Zone-based teams, has the cricketers battling it out in 20-over clashes.

The teams competing in the showdown are Geita Combine, Mwanza Boys, Mwanza Combine, and Geita Boys.

The 2025 TCA Inter-Academy League-Group 3 is the third showdown for junior cricketers this season, offering them an opportunity to gauge their skills.

The TCA had earlier organised the 2025 TCA Inter-Academy League in Dar es Salaam from June 26 to July 1.

It was closely followed by the 2025 TCA Inter-Academy League 2025- Group 2 at the Usagara ground in Tanga from July 3-6.

Junior cricketers exhibit their prowess in a competition in Geita recently. PHOTO: COURTESY OF TANZANIA CRICKET ASSOCIATION