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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
NORTHERNS completed a comeback to be crowned 2022/23 Pro50 Championship season champions after winning by three runs against Southerns at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday.
After being tasked with batting first, Northerns put up 273-9 and managed to defend it, bowling out their opponents for 270 in 47.4 overs in what turned out to be a closely contested encounter.
In the Northerns’ innings, Nkosana Mpofu was the star with the bat as he fell 12 runs short of a hundred before he was trapped leg before wicket (lbw) by Tafadzwa Tsiga. Mpofu was supported by Chamunorwa Chibhabha who also scored a half century with 50 runs on the board.
Tarisai Musakanda chipped in with 35 runs while Shingi Masakadza scored 27 runs and Spencer Magodo scored an unbeaten 21 runs to guide the Northerns to a competitive total in the decider.
Fast bowlers, Ernest Masuku and Victor Nyauchi took three wickets each for the Southerns while Tsiga and Johnathan Campbell took two and one respectively to round up the innings.
Southerns’ opening batting pair of Kevin Kasuza and Takudzwanashe Kaitano scored 38 and nine runs respectively as they began the chase. Campbell went on to top score for the team, falling four runs short of a half century with 46 runs.
Tashinga Musekiwa contributed 43 runs and Carl Mumba failed to reciprocate his previous fast paced innings as he managed to score 18 runs off 12 deliveries. Brandon Mavuta almost won the match for Southerns before he tried to go big with the team needing just four runs for the win. Mavuta was caught with 29 runs on the board and Masuku was the last wicket to fall as the Northerns sailed through.
The Chibhabha-captained Northerns took the series 2-1 as it concluded the Pro50 Championship season. With the completion of the country’s premier List A competition, up next is the Logan Cup which is expected to commence in the next few weeks. – @brandon_malvn
Online Reporter