Moffat Mungazi
Takudzwa Manzero
Post Correspondent
MUTARE-BASED cricket franchise Mountaineers defeated Mashonaland Eagles by 2 wickets at Mutare Sports Club yesterday to earn a spot in the Pro50 Championship final.
The intense thriller of semi-final before the curtain call went down to a the nail-biting last over then the last ball, in a highly contested match in which both teams came out guns blazing.
The hosts won the toss and elected to field first, putting Mashonaland Eagles in to bat.
The decision paid off as Victor Nyauchi took the scalps of Eagles top order batters of Rodney Mufudza 0(5) and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 0(8) in the first power play swinging the momentum of the match to Mountaineers.
However, the partnership between Kudzai Maunze 106(104), and Tadiwanashe Marumani’s 74(70) ushered the resurgence before Wesley Madhevere’s 34(23) ushered the Mashonaland Eagles to a steep 280 runs.
In their allocated 50 overs, the Mountaineers’ top order of Joylord Gumbie 3(9) and Tinashe Chiorah (11) suffered the cruel fate of leaving the crease falling to Faraz Akram.
Boma Man of the match and Mountaineers’ middle order batsman Ashley Mufandauya 71 (78), Alistar Frost 60(76) and Nicholas Welch 57(48) mounted the fight back. However, the Eagles’ pace attack proved menacing as Richard Ngarava (2-44), Fraz Akhram (2-38) and Tinotenda Maposa (3-47) maintained Eagles’ resistance.
With the hosts needing 19 runs from 16 balls the game was called off by the umpires due to bad light as clouds had gathered over the stadium. 20 minutes later after an agonising wait filled with frantic prayers from players and fans, the game was resumed as the sunshine pierced through the thick cloud cover towards the sunset.
Upon return, the game’s intensity continued unperturbed with Mountaineers’ bottom order led by Spencer Magodo’s 24 (21) keeping the team’s hopes alive before he was dismissed by Chivanga on the first ball of the final over.
Victor Nyauchi 11 (13) and Tendai Chatara 3(3) batted in the final over taking advantage of the extras from leg byes and a no ball to earn the team just one run over the target and a slot in the Pro50 Championship final.
Mountaineers coach Stewart Matsikenyeri had this to say, “This was always a target of mine since the beginning of the season. I think the boys have played really well throughout the season and today they managed to pull out another outstanding performance.”
Mountaineers will face Rhinos in the final.
Online Reporter