dyton mupawaenda
Lawrence Moyo-Head Zimpapers Sports
DEFENDING champions Mountaineers got their Pro50 Championship campaign off to a losing start as they went down by four wickets defending 295 at Mutare Sports Club as the Zimbabwe Cricket’s 2023/24 domestic season got underway yesterday.
In the day’s other match, Eagles successfully defended a modest 255 while beating Southern Rocks by six runs at Takashinga Cricket Club.
The teams meet again tomorrow at the same venues.
In Mutare, half centuries by opener/wicketkeeper Joylord Gumbie (63 off 84) and captain Tony Munyonga (96 off 86) helped Mountaineers to 295/7 off their 50 overs.
Spencer Magodo’s unbeaten 29 off 35 balls at number six was the third best contribution while the Rhinos gave away 24 extras.
In reply, an unbeaten 83 from 75 balls by number four Tarisai Musakanda took Rhinos to 296/6 with six balls to spare.
Musakanda and Ryan Burl (59 off 52) featured in a match winning 102-run partnership for the fourth wicket between the 31st and 45th overs with Rhinos moving from 161/3 to 263/4.
Opener and captain Prince Masvaure had the third highest contribution of 49 off 93 balls while Mountaineers bowlers contributed 25 extras.
At Takashinga, Eagles were bowled out for 255 in 47.5 overs as Kudakwashe Macheka claimed four wickets for 36 in 8.4 overs while Keith Jaure took three for 36 in 10 overs.
Batting at number five, Kudzai Maunze was the only batsman to reach a milestone as he scored 65 off 82 balls.
Wessley Madhevere made 48 in 43 balls while number seven Faraz Akram added 31 from 41 balls.
The Southern Rocks had a modest target but were never allowed to settle and none of their batsmen reached 50 runs as they were bowled out for 249 in 44.3 overs.
That Rocks were bowled out six runs short of Eagles’ score with 33 balls to spare underlines how modest the target was and how Eagles snatched victory from jaws of defeat.
Rocks were actually 249/8 after 44.1 overs but lost two wickets for no runs in successive balls for an improbable outcome.
There were three wickets each for Tanaka Chivanga (3-28 in 8.3 overs), Tapiwa Mufudza (3-36 in 10 overs) and Alex Russell (3-58 in 9 overs).
Online Reporter