Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
RAIN had the final say at Queens Sports Club yesterday, cutting short what was shaping into a convincing Tuskers victory in their Pro50 Championship clash against Mega Market Mountaineers.
Only four overs stood between Tuskers and a possible Duckworth Lewis verdict when the heavens opened, leaving the Bulawayo side stranded just shy of a deserved result. Mountaineers were struggling at 52 for 3, a full 32 runs behind the D/L par score of 84, but the rule only comes into effect after 20 overs, and they had managed just 12.
It was deja vu for Tuskers, who had also been frustrated by rain in their Logan Cup fixture a day earlier. Once again, they had been firmly in control.
Sent in to bat, Tuskers posted 227 all out in 49.5 overs. Their innings wobbled early, losing Tanunurwa Makoni (9), Nkosana Mpofu (19), and Tafara Mupariwa (8) inside 12 overs for 43. But veteran Brian Chari steadied the innings with Bright Phiri, the pair adding 75 for the fourth wicket. Phiri was eventually caught and bowled by Vincent Masekesa for 36 off 81 balls, leaving the hosts on 118 for 4.
Chari fell agonisingly close to a half century, dismissed for 47 off 79 balls. Munashe Chimusoro, who looked promising with 32 off 29, kept the scoreboard ticking before a string of quick dismissals saw the innings fold late on.
Ernest Masuku chipped in with a lively 35 off 28 before being run out in the final over, while Ainsley Ndlovu was also run out for five off three deliveries.
Victor Nyauchi took 2 for 34 from 9.5 overs, and Definate Mawadzi claimed 2 for 35 from six. Chatara, Frost, and Masekesa picked up one wicket each.
When Tuskers took the field, their bowlers maintained the upper hand. Tawanda Maposa was superb with the new ball, taking all three wickets in his five over spell that cost just 12 runs. He removed Ronak Patel (5), Panashe Chiorah (3), and Matthew Welch (0) to leave Mountaineers reeling at 16 for 3 in the eighth over.
Masuku’s spell complemented Maposa’s pressure, going for only 10 runs in his five overs as Mountaineers crawled to 23 for 3 after the first powerplay. Before the interruption, Timycen Maruma (22 off 29) and Nick Welch (13 off 29) were trying to steady things with an unbroken 36 run stand.
The draw means Tuskers will now shift focus to Harare, where they face Eagles in a Logan Cup match starting November 17, followed by a Pro50 clash on November 22 at Harare Sports Club. Mountaineers will host Southern Rocks in Mutare on the same dates.
