Wenslus Murape
A DYNAMIC innings of 44 from Hazratullah Zazai propelled Joburg Bangla Tigers to a straightforward eight-wicket victory over Durban Wolves in the opening match of the Zim Afro T10 tournament at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Wolves batted first, their innings being built around 38 off 16 balls by Mark Chapman and 29 off 15 balls by opening batter Sharjeel Khan.
Their total was 106 for five wickets, with the New Zealander Adam Milne the best bowler, taking one good wicket for only nine runs off his two overs.
Zazai dominated the strike and the scoring when Tigers replied as he scored 44 off 18 balls in 3.5 overs.
Kusal Perera (23 off seven) and captain Sikandar Raza (20 not out off eight) completed the job, while the other opener Mohammad Shahzad (13 not out) held his end up, the runs coming off only 7.4 overs.
In the second match, three wickets in five balls from Richard Gleeson of Harare Bolts put the brakes on a threatening Cape Town Samp Army innings, which led to his team’s eventual narrow victory by five wickets with three balls to spare.
Brian Bennett (16 off eight balls) and Dawid Malan (31 off 14) gave Samp Army a start of 45 runs within four overs, but Gleeson bowled the fifth, dismissing Malan, Qais Ahmed and Ben Curran at two-ball intervals to make the score 56 for four.
Only Leo Julien, with 34 not out off 16 balls, fared well after that, the eventual total being 103 for five wickets. Gleeson finished with his three wickets for eight runs.
Even then, Samp Army looked likely winners when they reduced Bolts to 45 for five wickets, of which Sean Williams made 19, within five overs.
But then James Neesham and George Munsey, both not out with 30 and 33 respectively, again turned the tables with a winning partnership of 60 to bring about a fine victory. In the third game, a brilliant opening partnership by Rassie van der Dussen and Avishka Fernando was the main factor in NYS Lagos’s seven-wicket victory over Bulawayo Brave Jaguars.
Jaguars, batting first, lost three wickets for 20 runs, but were rescued by Kobey Herft (31 not out off 23 balls) and Carlos Brathwaite (34 off 19 balls).
Brief Scores
Durban Wolves — 106-5 in 10 overs (Mark Chapman 38, Sharjeel Khan 29, Regis Chakabva 13*; Antum Naqvi 1/8, Adam Milne 1/9, George Linde 1/11)
Joburg Bangla Tigers — 109-2 in 7.4 overs (Hazratullah Zazai 44, Kusal Perera 23, Sikandar Raza 20*; Donald Tiripano 1/23, Mohamed Irfan 1/28) Result: Joburg Bangla Tigers won by eight wickets
Cape Town Samp Army — 103-5 in 10 overs (Leo Julien 34*, Dawid Malan 31, Brian Bennett 16; Richard Gleeson 3/8, Dasun Shanaka 1/18)
Harare Bolts — 105-5 in 9.3 overs (George Munsey 33*, James Neesham 30, Sean Williams 19; Tawanda Maposa 1/11, David Willey 1/13, Rohan Mustafa 1/17) Result: Harare Bolts won by five wickets
Bulawayo Brave Jaguars — 101-4 in 10 overs (Carlos Braithwaite 34, Kobey Herft 31*, Wessly Madhevere 16*; Matiullah Khan 2/27, Binura Fernando 1/11, Akhilesh Bogudum 1/18)
NYS Lagos — 102-3 in 9.4 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 51, Avishka Fernando 34, Ryan Burl 11*; Wellington Masakadza 1/11, Carlos Braithwaite 1/17) Result: NYS Lagos won by seven wickets. — ZimCricket
Online Reporter