Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MOUNTAINEERS and Rhinos will battle it out for the Pro50 championship trophy on March 16.
Mountaineers booked their place in the final after a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Eagles on Monday.
Tied on eight points prior to that match, the two sides had equal chances of reaching the final going into the last round robin matches on Monday.
But the two-wicket wicket victory ensured that Mountaineers booked a place in the final of the 2024-25 season Pro50 championship.
After winning the toss, Mountaineers put in Eagles to bat first
The hosts had an early break as they claimed their first wicket in the second over when Tinashe Kamunhukamwe was bowled by Victor Nyauchi.
At this stage, Eagles had five runs on the board.
Mountaineers struck again in the fourth over, dismissing Rodney Mupfudza.
Tadiwanashe Marumani and Kudzai Maunze combined well in a third wicket partnership of 98 from 111 balls.
The partnership was broken in the 23rd over after the dismissal of Marumani who scored 74 runs off 70 balls.
Maunze kept the hopes of the Pro50 defending champions alive with a ton.
He was dismissed in the 44th over after scoring 106 runs from 104 balls.
Wesley Madhevere was Eagles’ third highest run scorer with 34 runs off 23 balls.
Eagles were bowled out for 280 in 47.2 overs.
In their chase, Mountaineers had a similar start as their opponents as they lost their first wicket after 11 balls and went on to lose their second one inside four overs.
However, the trio of Nicholas Welch, Ashley Mufandauya and Alistar Frost scored half centuries to help the Mutare side chase down the target.
Mufandauya top scored with 71 runs off 78 balls, Frost hit 60 runs off 76 balls with Welch scoring 57 off 48. The match went to the wire.
In the end, Mountaineers required two runs off two balls and Victoria Nyauchi nudged a single before Tatenda Chatara sealed the victory with another single, sparking jubilant celebrations.
