THE 2024/25 local cricket season is expected to come to a thrilling conclusion with a potentially explosive domestic tournament which kicks off on Monday next week.
A week-long event, the Domestic T20 competition is set to run from March 24 to 30.
Two Harare venues, Harare Sports Club and Takashinga, will host the tournament.
English county side Durham, currently touring the country, won the the tournament last year after participating as guests.
They beat Harare side Eagles by a massive 213 runs after they scored 229 runs for the loss of six wickets before bowling out their opponents for just 16 runs.
Durham will not be taking part in this year's tournament.
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However, the Durham women's side will play the Zimbabwe Women Select select side on Wednesday evening as part of the festivities.
Wonder Chisango, cricket affairs manager at the Zimbabwe Cricket, expressed excitement about the T20 tournament.
“We are excited to bring fans another edition of the Domestic T20 Competition, which has grown into a key highlight of our cricket calendar,” he said.
“This tournament is not only a platform for our top provincial teams to showcase their talent but also a crucial opportunity for players to stake their claim for national selection.
“With a competitive line-up and an exciting schedule, we expect thrilling matches and standout performances.
“The inclusion of a Zimbabwe Women’s Select match against Durham Women further underscores our commitment to growing the women’s game,” Chisango said.
The action-packed tournament will begin at Harare Sports Club, where last season’s runners-up, Eagles, will be looking to go one step further as they take on Tuskers in the opening match at 1:30pm.
Later that evening, Mountaineers will face Rhinos under the lights at 6:30pm.
The second day will see Rhinos going up against Tuskers at 1:30 pm, before Eagles face Southern Rocks in an evening showdown at 6:30pm.
The following day, Wednesday, will feature an exciting triple-header at Harare Sports Club, starting with Mountaineers against Rocks at 930 am, followed by Rhinos versus Eagles at 1:45pm before concluding with a special night match where a Zimbabwe Women’s Select side will take on the visiting English county team, Durham Women, at 6:30pm.
After a rest day on Thursday, the tournament will resume on Friday at Takashinga Cricket Club in Highfield where the morning fixture will feature Tuskers against Mountaineers at 9:30am, followed by Rocks locking horns with Rhinos at 1:45pm.
On Saturday, the competition returns to Harare Sports Club, where Mountaineers and Rocks will clash at 1:30pm before Tuskers and Rocks meet under the lights at 6:30pm for the final round-robin fixture.
The top two teams on the points table will then contest the final, scheduled for Sunday, 30 March, at Harare Sports Club, with play set to begin at 1:30pm.
