adminA BRILLIANT innings of 81 not out by Chamu Chibhabha was the main factor in Eagles’ 18-run victory over Mega Market Mountaineers in the Domestic Twenty20 Competition at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday morning.
Put in to bat, Eagles did not begin too well, losing their openers to the bowling of Donald Tiripano for 31 runs, but their innings burst into life as Chibhabha and Nick Welch (25) shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 56 in seven overs.
After Welch was out it was all Chibhabha, as with little support from the later batters he completely dominated the bowling, and was not out at the end of the innings, having scored his 81 off 51 balls with three sixes and nine fours.
The total was 171 for six wickets, and Tiripano with two for 20 off three overs was the best of the bowlers.
The Mountaineers innings was even more of a one-man show, as PJ Moor, going in first, played an even more dazzling innings than Chibhabha, scoring 89 off 47 balls, with seven sixes and six fours.
Kevin Kasuza was bowled by Tawanda Dzikiti with the first ball of the innings, but Brian Bennett gave Moor support for a while as he scored 16 in a second-wicket partnership of 66.
The vital factor in the result of the match was the middle-order collapse that followed, mainly to the leg-breaks of Matt Parkinson – the next five batters scored just five runs among them as the innings crumbled to 81 for seven.
As long as Moor was still there, Mountaineers had hope, and finally Wellington Masakadza provided him with the partner he needed.
However, Moor’s brilliant innings ended at 138 for eight wickets in the 16th over, caught at the wicket off Parkinson.
Tanaka Chivanga then mopped up the last two wickets, and Mountaineers were dismissed for 153 in the 17th over.
Wellington Masakadza did his best with 22 not out off 17 balls, but otherwise the bowlers won, with Parkinson taking four for 39 and Chivanga three for 30.
Scores
Eagles – 171-6 in 20 overs (Chamu Chibhabha 81*, Nick Welch 25, Tadiwanashe Marumani 15; Donald Tiripano 2/20, Victor Nyauchi 1/20, Tinashe Muchawaya 1/27)
Mega Market Mountaineers – 153 all out in 16.5 overs (PJ Moor 89, Wellington Masakadza 22, Brian Bennett 16; Matt Parkinson 4/39, Tanaka Chivanga 3/30, Tawanda Dzikiti 1/11)
Eagles won by 18 runs
Rhinos – 200-6 in 20 overs (Carl Mumba 38, Tashinga Musekiwa 38, Nyasha Mayavo 35; Chris Mpofu 3/38, Ernest Masuku 2/30, Ainsley Ndlovu 1/11)
Tuskers – 164-5 in 20 overs (Milton Shumba 34, Clive Madande 33, Luke Jongwe 32; Carl Mumba 1/15, Mike Chinouya 1/20, Neville Madziva 1/29)
Rhinos won by 36 runs
Lions – 118-9 in 20 overs (Blessed Muzite 46, Bright Phiri 29, Awad Naqvi 12; Keith Jaure 3/24, Sydney Murombo 2/8, Nick Gubbins 1/22)
Southern Rocks – 119-1 in 11.4 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 53, Innocent Kaia 34*, Roy Kaia 29*; Christopher Masike 1/12)
Southern Rocks won by nine wickets. – zimcricket
Online Reporter