Kansonkho returns after impressive stint in Zim
Malawi national cricket team star Donnex Kansonkho has returned from Zimbabwe where he underwent a three-month training.
The training included an attachment at the Elton Chigumbura Cricket Academy and a stint with Uhuru Cricket Club in the Harare Metropolitan Second Division League.
Kansonkho also captained the Cricket Academy Malawi (CAM) Dragons in theMutare T20 Bash and then wenton to represent Westside Cricket Club in the National Premier League (NPL).
In an interview, the national cricket team vice-captain said he has benefited a lot from the trip.
He said: “It was an amazing experience and I thank The Cricket Academy and Cricket Malawi for believing in my abilities by sending me to the Elton Chigumbura Academy where I was presented with these opportunities to play club cricket in a well-established cricketing nation.
“The two youngsters, Waliyu Jackson and Blessings Pondani, who accompanied me, have also improved tremendously.
“The Cricket Malawi board’s decision to send the Cricket Academy Malawi side to play in the Mutare T20 Bash was also a great initiative as that gave the rest of my Malawian teammates an opportunity for international exposure.”
Kansonkho said the experience gained will help improve the standards of the domestic leagues and make them more competitive.
“I look forward to Malawi’s participation in the international tournaments at the end of the year and I feel we will be a more competitive side compared to the years before. These are exciting times for cricket in Malawi,” added the 25-year-old.
Kansonkho will now captain the Ndirande Highlanders in the Blantyre Premier T20 League which is set to start in mid June.
During the tour, he also interacted with some of Zimbabwe’s celebrated cricketers such as Tinotenda Mawoyo, Malcolm Waller and Elton Chigumbura.
Kansonkho had a decent outing in Zimbabwe, playing a total of 16 matches (four 50 overs, five 40 overs and seven T20s).
Playing for Uhuru Cricket Club 50 over league, the left-handed opener scored 162 runs in four innings and averaged 54 before leaving midway to captain the CAM Dragons at the Mutare T20 Bash.
It was during this tournament that Kansonkho shone the brightest, emerging the second highest run scorer with 150 runs in seven outings and also did his part with the ball taking nine wickets which brought his team to the finals.
He was then invited to play for the West Side Cricket Club, Mutare’s sole representative club in the NPL.
