Online Reporter
DEFENDING champions Rhinos started the defence of their domestic T20 title with a crushing nine-wicket defeat of Mountaineers at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Rain forced the abandonment of the first game between Eagles and Tuskers.
Play was stopped with one ball left in the 20th over of the Tuskers innings.
They had been sent in to bat and were building something promising when the clouds closed in.
Officials waited, hoping conditions would clear, but the weather refused to ease and the match ended with no result.
Clive Madande gave the morning crowd something to cheer.
He crafted his sixth T20 half century and walked off unbeaten on 53 off 31 balls.
His knock carried Tuskers to 157 for 5 in the 19.5 overs they managed to complete.
At least, the second game finished and it was a huge win for Rhinos.
They skittled Mountaineers for 59 all out in 15,4 overs before reaching their target at the fall of just one wicket to win by nine wickets.
Only Brendon Taylor fell when he was caught and bowled by Tendai Chatara for 10.
Ben Curran (34) and Tarisai Musakanda (12) took Rhinos home.
Mountaineers won the toss and elected to bat first.
It backfired for them as they found themselves two wickets down with just two runs on the board and were eventually dismissed for just 59.
Only two batters, Brian Bennett and tail-ender Victor Nyauchi (13) managed double figures.
Bennett’s 16 came from 15 balls and he struck two fours.
There were three ducks in their innings – Tinashe Chiorah, Alistar Frost and Vincent Masekesa.
Trevor Gwandu was the destroyer-in-chief with 3-10 in his three overs while Graeme Cremer took 2-12 in his four overs.
Maaz Khan took 2-7 while there was a wicket each for Ryan Burl, Antum Naqvi and Muhamaad Khwaja.
