adminMOUNTAINEERS have retained the Pro50 Championship trophy after defeating Rhinos by a single run in a thrilling final that went down to the last delivery at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday.
Rhinos won the toss and put Mountaineers in to bat.
Kevin Kasuza, opening the batting, struggled for runs before he was finally caught off the bowling of Mike Chinouya for four.
His partner, Clive Chitumba, made 26 before he was bowled by Carl Mumba to make the score 44 for two.
Then came the partnership that put the team on course for a good total, as PJ Moor joined Definate Mawadzi at the crease.
They wisely played themselves in and began to dominate the bowling, adding 82 together before Brandon Mavuta, as so often in this tournament, broke the stand by having Moor caught for 44, which came off 42 deliveries.
The captain, Timycen Maruma, came in next and he continued the good work, adding 91 with his young partner before Mawadzi was caught by Mavuta off Mumba for a very praiseworthy innings of 70 – he faced 90 balls and hit three sixes and four fours.
The score was now 217 for four after 41 overs, but Maruma himself went in the next over, bowled by Mavuta, having scored 51 off 45 balls (four sixes, three fours).
Tinashe Muchawaya fell first ball to Mavuta, and Mumba removed Spencer Magodo for one, so from 217 for three the score eight balls later was 219 for seven.
Fortunately for the Mountaineers, Donald Tiripano joined Shingi Masakadza and the pair made a fine recovery, batting out the 50 overs together undefeated.
They added 58, both finishing not out with 27, and the final score was 277 for seven, no easy task for Rhinos.
Their best bowlers had been Mumba, with three for 50 in nine overs, and once again Mavuta, three for 34 in 10.
Madziva also did a very economical job, taking no wickets but bowling his nine overs for only 33 runs.
Scores
Mountaineers – 277-7 in 50 overs (Definate Mawadzi 70, Timycen Maruma 51, Peter Moor 44; Brandon Mavuta 3/34, Carl Mumba 3/50, Michael Chinouya 1/44)
Rhinos – 276-8 in 50 overs (Johnathan Campbell 57, Carl Mumba 44*, Prince Masvaure 43; Tinashe Muchawaya 2/33, Clive Chitumba 1/25, Victor Nyauchi 1/39)
Mountaineers won by one run – zimcricket
Online Reporter