adminSports Correspondent
MANICALAND’s cricket franchise, Mountaineers have settled for second place in the Pro50 Championship first round after defeating Midland’s Midwest Rhinos by 18 runs on Monday in Kwekwe. The defending champions, Mashonaland Eagles, lead the pack with flawless victories in the first round. Mountaineers made 242 for four on the back of half-centuries from Timycen Maruma (69) and Hamilton Masakadza (65).
Donald Tiripano, the pacer, then recorded figures of five for 47 off 10 overs, his best List-A performance, as Rhinos were bowled out for 242 in the penultimate over. Rhinos’ top order struggled as they were reduced to 53 for four, before Prince Masvaure (91) and Remembrance Nyathi (46) came up with the rescue act.
The pair added 125 for the fifth wicket before falling in successive overs. Nevill Madziva made an unbeaten 27 to keep their hopes alive, but that was scant consolation, as the last four batsmen could manage just nine runs between them.
Eagles, on the other hand, won their match in Harare against Matabeleland Tuskers by four wickets to end the first round with 14 points after attaining two bonus points.
Openers, Regis Chakabva and Tinotenda Mutombodzi struck 61 each to help the side chase down a revised target of 225 in 48 overs against Matabeleland Tuskers with 12 balls and four wickets to spare. Tuskers (4) and Rhinos (0) sit on position three and four on the log respectively.
Mountaineers coach, Shepherd Makunura, said his side was slowly gaining form after notably improving in their batting on Monday. “I am satisfied with the first round results. There was a big improvement in our batting as we were scoring an average of 160 in the first two games, but jumped to 242/4 which was a good result.
“The bowling was also good with Tiripano and Victor Nyauchi getting five wickets and four wickets respectively,” said Makunura. Mountaineers, in the first round, only lost to Eagles. The Pro50 second round starts next week with the Mutare franchise travelling to Bulawayo to face Tuskers.
Meanwhile, the four-day series Logan Cup started on Wednesday and both opening matches in Harare and Kwekwe are expected to end Saturday.
Online Reporter