Chronicle EditorBrandon Moyo, [email protected]
FOLLOWING their historic Domestic T20 title, Rhinos also saw two of their players scoop individual honours during the prize ceremony.
The T20 tournament was one to remember for Rhinos, who, after winning the title – their first Domestic T20 silverware – had their skipper, Antum Naqvi, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Brad Evans received the Bowler of the Tournament accolade.
Naqvi – who was also named Player of the Match in the final against Eagles for his brilliant all-round performance – finished the tournament with 182 runs in five innings at an average of 45.50, including two half-centuries. With the ball, the 25-year-old picked up six wickets at an average of 17.16, with best figures of 2/19.
His teammate, Evans, was the leading wicket-taker with 15 scalps to his name, at an impressive average of just 7.13, with best figures of 4/26. He was one of three bowlers to take four wickets in an innings during this campaign, alongside Hendrichs Macheke (4/22) and Tendai Chatara (4/21). The trio finished tied on 10 wickets apiece.
Title-winning Michael Chinouya (5/24) was the only bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul this season.
With the bat, it was runners-up Eagles’ Tadiwanashe Marumani who topped the run-scoring charts with 266 runs in five innings, the only batter to surpass the 200-run mark. Marumani finished with an impressive average of 53.20, including three half-centuries and a high score of 95 runs – which, however, came in a losing cause.
It was a well-deserved victory for Rhinos, who had finished as runners-up in 2010/11 and 2022/23. They also lost the Pro50 Championship this season.
“Thrilled to captain Rhinos to our first Zimbabwe Cricket Domestic T20 trophy. A huge thank you to my teammates, coaches, support staff and our supporters. Each and every one of you played a crucial role in the success. The Rhino took the trophy,” Naqvi posted on X.
In the final against Eagles, Rhinos won the toss and elected to bat first, finishing their innings on 174/9, with Naqvi scoring a half-century. The new kings of domestic T20 cricket, Rhinos, went on to produce a superb bowling display to restrict Eagles to 125/9.
Rhinos didn’t have the best of starts with the bat as they lost three quick wickets. They found themselves in trouble at 25/3, having lost the wickets of Takudzwanashe Kaitano (13), Ben Curran (7), and Ryan Burl (5).
Naqvi went on to produce a brilliant performance with the bat, scoring 50 runs off 32 deliveries, including two sixes and four fours. There were also handy knocks from Tashinga Musekiwa (33), Victor Chirwa (27) and Nyasha Mayavo (22).
Richard Ngarava and Tinotenda Maposa picked up two wickets apiece for Eagles, while Wallace Mubaiwa, Wessly Madhevere, and Kundai Matigimu claimed one wicket each.
Naqvi completed an all-round performance by picking up two wickets for 19 runs in the second innings. Bradley Evans and Hendrichs Macheke also claimed two wickets each to help guide their team to victory.
Craig Ervine top-scored for Eagles with 21 runs off 19 deliveries.
—@brandon_malvin
Online Reporter