Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
TUSKERS walked off Harare Sports Club with far more questions than answers after Rhinos handed them a bruising 50 run defeat in yesterday’s Domestic T20 clash. It was their second outing of the week and it ended with another reminder of how much ground they need to cover if they want to keep pace in this competition.
Their campaign had already stumbled on Monday when their opener against Eagles was abandoned. That left yesterday’s match as a chance to reset, but they never found the rhythm required to trouble the defending champions.
Tuskers chose to field and did well early on, holding Rhinos to 166 for 5 in 20 overs. The start was sharp. Luke Jongwe and Tinotenda Maposa removed Ben Curran and Brendan Taylor inside five overs. Jongwe struck in the fourth, removing Curran for 14 off 11. Maposa followed moments later, bowling Taylor for two from five deliveries. At 31 for 2 inside five overs, Tuskers had the game where they wanted it.
Rhinos turned the tide through Antum Naqvi and Tarisai Musakanda. Their 76 run stand steadied the innings and changed the feel of the contest. Milton Shumba broke it in the 15th over when he had Naqvi caught for 46 from 33.
Musakanda was run out by Ainsley Ndlovu for the same score in the 19th. Maposa closed the innings with his second wicket after removing Ryan Burl for 40 off 20 balls. Maposa finished with 2 for 26 from his four overs, with Shumba and Jongwe taking one wicket each.
The chase never took shape. Wickets fell too easily and too often. Brian Chari went for nine in the second over. Brian Mudzinganyama followed in the next for two. Shumba lasted to the seventh but departed for five. At 37 for 3, the Bulawayo side was already sinking and the slide only gathered pace.
Clive Madande and Munashe Chimusoro tried to pull something from a fading position. Madande, fresh off a half century in the first match, top scored again with an unbeaten 39 from 33 balls. Chimusoro added 27 off 24. Tinotenda Maposa was the only other batter to reach double figures with 10.
Rhinos’ attack split the damage well, led by Maaz Khan’s superb four for 17 in four overs. Trevor Gwandu chipped in with two wickets, and Muhammad Khwaja, Graeme Cremer, Victor Chirwa and Burl took one each.
Tuskers return to the same venue on Friday for a night match against Mega Market Mountaineers. First ball is at 18.30PM.
