Online Reporter
FARAZ Akram with the ball and Kudzai Maunze with the bat played the leading role at Harare Sports Club yesterday to steer Eagles to a five-wicket victory over Mountaineers in their Pro50 Championship clash.
The Eagles won with more than 17 overs to spare.
Asked to bat first, Mountaineers produced a patchy innings in which only three players managed to reach double figures.
Opener Tinashe Chiorah made 20 but was the third wicket to fall with the score on 27.
Timycen Maruma and captain Wellington Masakadza added 99 for the fifth wicket in 21 overs before Wessly Madhevere struck, bowling Masakadza for a steady 43 off 60 balls.
At 150, however, the innings unravelled.
Akram tore through the middle and lower order, removing three batters in successive overs.
Akram returned outstanding figures of four for 27 from nine overs.
Eagles were left needing 167.
Craig Ervine and Maunze comfortably negotiated the Mountaineers attack, putting on 85 for the fourth wicket in just 15 overs to tilt the match decisively in Eagles’ favour.
Ervine made 34 off 43 balls before falling to Masakadza at 128, while Madhevere followed for 14 soon after.
Maunze finished unbeaten on 60 from 70 balls.
