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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE curtain comes down on the second edition of the Old Mutual Heath Streak Twenty20 Africa Cricket Cup this morning when defending champions Fazak Zimbabwe take on Choppies Botswana in the final.

The winner of the final which starts at 9AM at the Old Mutual Heath Streak Academy in Bulawayo will take on the academy select in an exhibition game.

The Old Mutual Heath Streak Development team to play the Africa Cup winners was selected from 20 top cricket playing schools from Bulawayo’s high density suburbs.

Zimbabwe and Botswana booked their places in the final at the expense of Zambia and Namibia.

On their way to the final, Zimbabwe won all their four games.

The defending champions defeated Botswana by 77 runs in the opening games and beat Namibia by seven wickets with some outstanding performances produced by the local youngsters who are under the tutelage of Mxolisi Dube and Shaun Joseph.

Ray-Royce Sibanda top scored with 52 runs, his opening partner Harry Streak, son of national team coach Heath who was part of the spectators was second best with an unbeaten 48 as Zimbabwe made 152 for two in 20 overs against Botswana.

Leg spinner Alastair Conolly picked up five wickets for 15 runs in four overs, skipper Mgcini Ndlela took two wickets, the same number as Adriel Dube as Botswana were bowled out for 75 runs in 15.5 overs, their highest score coming from Brandon Rouse with 12.

Namibia batted first, compiled 114 for nine in 20 over with Xander van Niekerk’s 42 the highlight of their innings. Conolly, Ndlela and Thabo Sinala had two wickets apiece. Zimbabwe chased down their target to win in 14.1 overs, Streak the highest run scorer with 29, Ndlela made 27 while Sibanda contributed 22.

Yesterday Zimbabwe beat Namibia by 54 runs having set a target of 123.

Botswana recovered from Zimbabwe’s defeat to beat Namibia by six wickets. The Namibians had set a target of 116 runs.

Choppies Botswana booked their place in the final after beating Zambia by eight runs.

Meanwhile, national cricket team captain Graeme Cremer and Old Mutual Insurance Company managing director Donald Muthe will be the guests at today’s final.

@ZililoR