Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TONY MUNYONGA played a brilliant knock for Zimbabwe, steering the Chevrons to a thrilling three-wicket win in the second T20I cricket match against Ireland at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The 26-year-old, making a return to the national set-up, ensured his opportunity counted with an unbeaten 43 runs that saw Zimbabwe chase down a challenging total.
The Chevrons had been written off early on in their chase.
The match ended in a tense finish, with Zimbabwe needing 13 runs off the last two overs.
Richard Ngarava was crucial in the penultimate over, smacking the first ball for four runs and following up with another four off the third delivery.
Three singles brought the Chevrons to within two runs of victory.
With Ngarava facing the first ball of the final over, he took a single, leaving Munyonga to seal the win with a brilliant cover drive for four runs.
Munyonga’s innings came off just 30 balls, with a strike rate of 143.33, and his heroics handed Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, putting them one step away from claiming the trophy.
The series opener on Saturday had been abandoned due to rain.
In yesterday’s match, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first. They restricted Ireland to 137/8 in their 20 overs before reaching 141/7 with four balls to spare. Ngarava gave Zimbabwe a brilliant start with the ball, dismissing Paul Stirling for just one run in the first over.
A 53-run partnership between Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector followed, but Zimbabwe broke the stand with Tector’s dismissal for 28 runs off 20 balls, courtesy of Sikandar Raza. Tucker, who was caught for 46 runs off 40 balls, fell just short of his half-century.
Curtis Campher was the only other Ireland batter to reach double figures, contributing 26 runs off 25 balls.
Trevor Gwandu was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 3/24 from his four overs. Raza claimed two wickets for 22 runs, while Ngarava registered figures of 2/38.
Blessing Muzarabani picked up the other wicket, finishing with 1/21 from his four-over spell.
In Zimbabwe’s run chase, they were off to a poor start, with Craig Young causing chaos in the top order. The Chevrons were reduced to 14/3 in just four overs, with Young claiming three wickets.
However, Raza and Ryan Burl stabilised the innings with a 48-run fourth-wicket partnership before Burl was caught for 27 runs.
Raza was dismissed shortly after for 22 runs.
Tashinga Musekiwa fell to Young, leaving Zimbabwe in dire straits at 11/7 after 17 overs. It was then that Munyonga and Ngarava fought back, adding a crucial 29 runs for the eighth wicket. Munyonga finished un-beaten on 43, with Ngarava supporting him with 12* off 7 balls, guiding Zimbabwe to victory.
The series decider is scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue.
Zimbabwe will need a win to seal the series, while Ireland will be hoping to bounce back and level the series 1-1.
Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Ernest Masuku claimed two wickets for Tuskers late on day three of their Logan Cup match against Mega Market Mountaineers at Queens Sports Club, putting the Bulawayo side ahead going into the final day.
Tuskers had posted 422 runs in their second innings, having earlier bowled out Mountaineers for 308.
At stumps, Mountaineers were 67/2, still trailing by 47 runs.
Masuku had taken the wickets of Joylord Gumbie (6) and Nick Welch (19). Alistair Frost (24) and Clive Chitumba (13) will resume for Mountaineers on day four, with play set to resume at 10am today.
Peter Tanyanyiwa