malvernmugadzikwa
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
HAZRATULLAH ZAZAI’s unbeaten 43 runs off 22 balls made the difference as the Durban Qalanders snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, courtesy of an eight-wicket win over the Joburg Buffaloes in the inagural Zim Afro T10 cricket final at Harare Sports Club last night.
After 10 days of scintillating cricket, it only made sense that the two teams would meet in the decider.
Qalanders have been one of the most consistent sides, while the Buffaloes wrote their own fairytale into the final.
Buffaloes spent the larger part of the tournament at the basement of the log standings, before a late rally saw them turn the tables and become the first team to book their place in the final.
Yusuf Pathan’s magnificent 80 runs off 26 balls inspired Buffaloes into the final after a six-wicket victory over the Qalanders during Friday’s first qualifier.
The Qalanders needed to chase down 145 runs to beat Harare Hurricanes in the eliminator and punch their own ticket into the final.
When the two sides met again, Zazai made all the difference.
The Qalanders won the toss and opted to bat.
A 53-run partnership between Pathan and Tom Banton for the third wicket helped Buffaloes to 127 for four.
When the tournament began, 120 runs seemed to be a decent total for any side to defend but the play-offs later proved that anything can happen in the T10 format.
The Buffaloes foreign contingent lived up to their billing, as skipper Banton top- scored with 36 runs off 17 balls, while the trio of Mohammad Hafeez, Pathan and Ravi Bopara chipped in with 32, 25 and 22 runs, respectively.
The Qalanders’ bowlers toiled all evening as only Tayyab Abbas, George Linde, Bradley Evans and Azmatullah Omerzai could only manage a scalp each, leaving the Buffaloes in the driving seat at the innings’ break.
Then came the Zazai show.
The 25-year-old Afghanistan player laid the foundation of the Qalanders’ innings with his 43-runs featuring four sixes and a boundary.
He found able assistance in the top order of Tim Seifert (30), Andre Fletcher (29) and Asif Ali (21), as the Qalanders became inaugural champions of the Zim Afro T10 tournament.
Only Usman Shinwari managed to make a dent in the Qalanders’ run chase, taking two wickets for 15 runs during his allotted two overs.
Qalanders skipper Craig Ervine went on to pay homage to Zazai’s incredible innings.
“I thought his (Zazai) innings were absolutely special,” said Ervine.
“Some could have criticised him for the slow start but I thought that the way he stayed nice and calm and held the innings together was the difference-maker.”
Ervine literally ran out of superlatives to describe his team’s performance.
“It probably hasn’t sunk in as it has only been a few minutes since those winning runs.
“To be a part of something like this is pretty special.
“I haven’t played many leagues around the world, but to win this trophy will probably go down in memory for sure.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter