Keyano College Huskies Athletics took to the cricket pitch in competitive play for the first time ever this weekend, with the Women's Cricket program taking on the Alberta Strikers.
A member of the Alberta Women's Cricket League, the Strikers took down the Huskies in two close matchups Saturday before the weekend finale was rained out Sunday at Syncrude Athletic Park.
"[It was] an extremely good experience for our team," Head Coach Irfan Bangash said. "We are still in the building process. It was our first official game so we are still looking for right combinations and what positions what players should be playing.
"These two games were really wonderful for us to know what position what player would be playing. It was very good experience for us."
Playing T20 cricket, a shortened form of the game of cricket, the Huskies fell in the opening match after the Strikers surpassed the target of 119 runs, making the match a close one by doing so in the 18th of 20 overs.
"It was a good, lovely weekend for cricket; competitive cricket as well," Tiffany Thorpe said. "Unfortunately, we came out on the losing end, but some of these girls never played cricket before. It was a good turnout."
The Huskies batted well in Saturday's opening contest, nearly averaging a run per ball throughout the entirety of their 20 overs and never found themselves in wicket danger either.
Their first chance to field also saw Women's Soccer midfielder Emma Bendera make her second debut in a collegiate sport for the Keyano Huskies.
The defeats will also help to fuel the team's competitive spirit that will see them take on the Strikers next weekend down south.
"Now we know what we are against," continued Bangash. "We're going to be playing very well when we go back and play the same series outside on their turf."
First added for the 2019-20 academic year, the cricket program hopes to grow and provide more opportunity for athletes, as it aims to become a leader throughout Alberta and Canada.
"Having this opportunity is once in a lifetime. You don't usually hear about Canadian schools offering cricket to anybody."
