OPENING batsman Adam Forbes and pace bowler Franco Marais were key in a thrilling last-over victory of their touring Easterns South African provincial franchise on the opening day of ZimPups Under-15 and Under-16 cricket festival at St John’s College yesterday.

Forbes struck a crisp 69 off 93 balls for the Benoni-based Easterns Junior Cricket Club Association (EJCCA) for a score of 216 all out in the 43rd of their allotted 50 overs.

Despite a watchful anchor-innings of 71 not out by skipper Eddie Byrom (117 balls) and an attractive 42 by Deon Sly (53 balls) the Zimbabwe Invitation completed their 50 overs at 205 for 5 wickets and EJCCA won by 12 runs.

But the result was in the balance until the last three balls and it was the accurate pace of Marais that nullified that target once again.

Zimbabwe Invitation lost their fourth wicket at 166 in the 43rd over after steadying a 105-run partnership between Byrom and Sly that lasted 28 overs to bring the talented, hard-hitting Falcon batsman Shaun Snyder to the crease and heighten expectations.

He cracked a few typically scorching shots and sent local hopes soaring, but a beautiful delivery by Marais clipped his stumps and he was out for 15. EJCCA won the toss on a beautiful first day of the festival in a fine setting. Snyder sensationally snatched two wickets in his first over for EJCCA to be sent reeling to 8 for 2 in two overs. Zander Els (30) and Forbes steadied the ship with a 74-run partnership and Matthew Corin weighed in with 39.

Special mention must be made of the outstanding slow off-spin bowling by the pint-sized Falcon schoolboy Taun Harrison who is 12-years-old and he is the youngest player in the festival and certainly the shortest boy.

He bowled his full quota of 10 overs and constantly enticed the batsman with his full-flight and accuracy to finish with the highly commendable figures of 0-35 when EJCCA were seeking to add momentum to their scoring.

Scores

Zimbabwe Invitation v EJCCA (SA)

EJCCA: 216 all out (42,4 overs) (Adam Forbes 69, Zander Els 30, Matthew Corin 39; Shaun Snyder 3-28, Lochlan Butler 2-18);

Zimbabwe Invitation: 204 for 5 (50 overs) (Eddie Byrom 71 not out, Deon Sly 42, David Brent 20). EJCCA won by 12 runs.

Zimbabwe Under-15 Select v Zimbabwe Umder-16

Zimbabwe Under-16: 217 all out (49,2 overs) (Tafayz Butt 24, Brad Evans 19, Adam Keefe 19, Dean Peall 54, Blessing Muzite 33 not out; Keith Jaure 3-15);

Zimbabwe Under-15: Select 163 all out (43,5 overs) (Brendan Sly 31, Sam Curran 45; Tatenda Chiradza2-20; Dean Peall 2-42, Kyle Hopper 2-25