adminon-going trait as the season progresses.
“The morale in the change room is very low ever since KC was taken from us. We all have a very tough job adjusting to living without him around. We can only pick ourselves and honour him by doing good from all the experience and knowledge he gave us — the boys almost let themselves down and they should watch over letting good games go against their favour,” said Timoni.
The Tuskers set an attainable 237 run for eight wickets in their fifty overs thanks in a main to Sean Ervine’s well struck 94 and fielding and bowling gaffes that amounted to an extra 35. Charles Coventry went against his aggressive tendencies and scored a well appreciated 34 runs from 67 balls.
It was a good toss decision by the Eagles to send the visitors as their fast bowlers struck at Tuskers’ arsenals. Kyle Jarvis and Mark Mbofana were the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets each, it would have been a more impressive effort had both of them not conceded six extras each as well.
“The bowlers started well especially the seamers who applied a lot of pressure in the beginning. Tuskers came out fighting against the spinners and they were smart enough to get single from almost every ball. Ervine batted very well and really pushed us. At the end of their innings they had wickets at and our bowlers had relaxed a bit which was easier for them to get punished in the last five overs,” he said.
In the Eagles’ response Regis Chakabva scored 41 before being caught behind, while his skipper Stuart Matsikenyeri scored 37. In the hard won victory six batsmen were caught behind suggesting the quality of gritty and accurate fast bowlers Heath Streak is producing in Matabeleland.
Keegan Meth was outstanding with two wickets for 29 run in ten over which also included three maidens.
Timoni knows his side was not performing to full capacity and primitive slip ups contributed to this.
He said: “We didn’t start our batting very well Regis (Chakabva) got off late and Chibhabha wasn’t pushing it in-between the wicket. We ended up throwing Nathan Waller to push the run rate,” he said.
— but at the end of the day a win is a win.”
Elsewhere yesterday, whether the MidWest Rhinos were cashing in on the Mountaineers’ bad luck, weakness or just poor brilliance –the fact is that the Mutare giants were reduced to a sardonic eleven men who were trounced by eight wickets with over 37 overs to spare at Kwekwe Sports Club.
The embarrassing loss keep them stuck at fourth position on the log table and reducing their chances of contesting for the Zimbabwe domestic 50 over competition.
Visiting captain Tinotenda Mowoyo crashed out for three run caught from Mike Chinouya’s fourth ball. This marked the start of one of the biggest batting capitulations in Zimbabwe’s franchise cricket history as the Mountaineers were bowled out for 66 runs in 26.3 overs.
Rhinos’ quick bowlers did a sterling job with Mike Chinouya, Edward Rainsford and Rchard Muzhage taking two wickets a-piece. Graeme Cremer was the peak of the bowlers with three wickets for 22 in 6.3 overs.
Product of Jason Gillespie, Richard Muzhange attributes the toss and a good bowling wicket to the Mountaineers demise. Most of the Mountaineers were caught behind as a result of accurate quick bowlers, he said: “The wicket had a lot of bounce and movement which was quite pleasant to bowl on but we had to put in the right areas otherwise it would have turned against us. It was a good toss to win and this really helps my confidence getting into the season.”
Truly the wicket almost turned against the hosts as their skipper Brendan Taylor had a premature exit as he was trapped leg before wicket by Tendai Chatara for 13 runs in the forth over. Opening partner Vusi Sibanda was on a mission to put the ramshackle Mountaineers out of their misery and scored a quick fire 31 runs from 25 deliveries after pouncing five boundaries
Victory for the homeside came in just 12.1 overs and they had a well deserved rest before they have to finish off the Mountaineers in today’s Twenty20 fixture.
Online Reporter