Online Reporter
VISITING Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Midwest Rhinos shared the spoils in their T20 double header at Kwekwe Sports Club on Monday.
In the opening match, Rhinos fell to a six-wicket defeat despite a valiant half-century from Ben Curran.
Sent in to bat first, Rhinos were in early trouble, losing two wickets for just seven runs within the first three overs.
That brought together Curran and Victor Chirwa, who steadied the innings with an 83-run stand for the fourth wicket — the only significant partnership of the innings and the only time two batters reached double figures.
Curran’s fluent 56 off 46 balls, featuring six fours, ended when he was bowled by Wareing with the total on 109.
Chirwa followed soon after for a solid 34 from 37 deliveries, his patient knock adding much-needed substance.
The lower order struggled to accelerate, and Rhinos closed on 134 for seven.
Wareing, Davidson and Joseph Davies shared the bowling honours with two wickets apiece.
Simon Fernandes (33) and Darren Ironside (24 not out) added 48 for the fourth wicket to put MCC in control.
Ironside and Mo Rizvi (14 not out) then guided the visitors home in a tight finish, with one ball to spare.
Gwandu was the pick of the Rhinos bowlers, returning two for 20 from his four overs.
Meanwhile, a quickfire 43 from opener Ahsan Aqil Ali set the tone for Rhinos’ four-wicket victory over MCC in the afternoon T20, levelling the day’s mini-series at one apiece.
MCC, batting first, suffered an early collapse, losing both openers with only three runs on the board.
Simon Fernandes was caught by Ben Curran off Victor Chirwa without scoring, while Will Smale fell lbw to Tafara Chingwara for two.
Billy Mead and Darren Ironside steadied the innings with a 39-run stand before Mead was bowled by Ronald Masocha for 12.
Two quick wickets followed, leaving the tourists wobbling at 59 for five. Ironside anchored the innings superbly, finding support from Ben Allison (19) and Mike Frost (13) as MCC recovered to post 127 for seven from their 20 overs.
Ironside finished unbeaten on 64 off 56 balls, striking one six and three fours.
In reply, Rhinos got off to a flying start. Ali and Curran put on 44 for the first wicket in just under five overs before Curran fell to Davies for 16.
Another 39-run partnership followed, but once Ali was trapped lbw by Wareing for 43 off 29 balls, the innings wobbled.
Brief Scores:
Rhinos — 134-7 in 20 overs (Ben Curran 56, Victor Chirwa 34, Nyasha Mayavo 9; Matt Wareing 2/18, Joseph Davies 2/23, Jasper Davidson 2/32)
Marylebone Cricket Club — 135-4 in 19.5 overs (Billy Mead 41, Simon Fernandes 33, Darren Ironside 24*; Trevor Gwandu 2/20, Faraz Akram 1/24, Victor Chirwa 1/28)
Result: Marylebone Cricket Club won by six wickets
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Marylebone Cricket Club – 127-7 in 20 overs (Darren Ironside 64*, Ben Allison 19, Mike Frost 13; Davis Murwendo 2/19, Ronald Masocha 2/23, Victor Chirwa 1/18)
Rhinos – 128-6 in 16.2 overs (Ahsan Aqil Ali 43, Victor Chirwa 19, Ben Curran 16; Mo Rizvi 2/21, Mike Frost 2/23, Joseph Davies 1/14)
Result: Rhinos won by four wickets.
