Mashonaland Eagles beat Mid-West Rhinos

themselves into the next stage of the competition with a brilliant batting display against Mid-West Rhinos at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
It means Mash Eagles will take on Mountaineers in the Stanbic Twenty20 final at the same venue tomorrow. The Eagles just failed to reach a total of 200, but their 195 for five was the highest of the tournament to date, thanks to the blazing start they received from Ryan ten Doeschate (63) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (89). Not even the stars of the Mid-West Rhinos batting could compete with this, and they bowed out of the tournament. The Eagles now have the opportunity to defend their title which they won against the MidWest Rhinos in the last edition of the tournament. The weather was again hot and sunny as Eagles were put in to bat; no doubt this was not their preference, but they responded in brilliant fashion.
Ryan ten Doeschate went in first this time with Stuart Matsikenyeri, and he led the charge with a dazzling display of ferocious stroke play right from the start. The term ‘good opening partnership’ has been an oxymoron for Mashonaland Eagles for some time now, but this time their opening pair could not have done a better job. fter five overs the score was 53 without loss and the 100 came up in the ninth over. Ten Doeschate made 63 off 33 balls with four fours and six sixes, and when he was caught off a skyer on the extra-cover boundary the score was 109 for one in the tenth over. Mashonaland Eagles looked certain to pass 200 easily, but as he approached his century Matsikenyeri slowed down and was then bowled by Muzhange for 89 (51 balls, seven fours, five sixes).
So the total was ‘only’ 195 for five in the end.
Scorecard
Mashonaland Eagles 195 for 5 (Matsikenyeri 89, ten Doeschate 63, Muzhange 3 – 24) beat Mid-West Rhinos 142 (Wessels 42, Trego 4 – 27). – www.zimcricket.org