Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
TUSKERS will be out to complete a double over Rhinos and maintain their impressive start to the season when the two sides meet again in the Pro50 Championship at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) today.
The Bulawayo-based side have enjoyed a solid start to the new campaign, winning four of their five matches to sit at the top of the log table.
They will be hoping to maintain that run and make it five wins from six matches.
Playing at home and banking on home support, Tuskers go into today’s match high in confidence after beating Rhinos by eight wickets on Friday.
They will be looking to complete a double over the Kwekwe Sports Club-based side, who have so far managed just one win from the three matches they have played.
On Friday, Tuskers bounced back to winning ways with a convincing victory. After being asked to field first, they bowled Rhinos out for 244 runs in 48.1 overs before successfully chasing down the target in 46.2 overs, finishing on 245/2.
Tawanda Maposa starred with the ball for Tuskers, returning impressive figures of 4/28 in 6.1 overs, while Milton Shumba, who captained the side in the absence of Clive Madande, claimed 3/35 in six overs.
Ainsley Ndlovu continued his consistent form, picking up two wickets for 38 runs in his 10-over spell, while Tanatswa Bechani chipped in with one wicket for 46 runs, also in 10 overs.
Tafadzwa Mahachi and Tapiwa Mushope top-scored for Rhinos with 39 runs apiece, off 50 and 38 balls respectively. Ronald Masocha finished unbeaten on 31 runs off 24 deliveries, while Sheldon Mugari contributed 28 runs.
Tuskers made a solid start to their chase, with seasoned openers Brian Chari and Nkosana Mpofu putting together a 79-run opening partnership.
The stand was broken in the 20th over when Manson Chikowero bowled Chari for 54 off 63 balls.
Mpofu and Ali Akbar Hamid then combined for a 119-run second-wicket partnership before Tendai Chisoro broke the stand in the 40th over, bowling Hamid for 52 off 58 balls.
Mpofu saw the game through with a brilliant unbeaten 93 off 134 balls, an innings that included five fours and one six. Tafara Mupariwa also finished unbeaten on 27 off 23 balls.
Chisoro finished with figures of 1/46 in nine overs, while Chikowero returned 1/22 in seven overs.
Today’s match is scheduled to start at 9.30am, with fans being urged to turn out in their numbers to support the home side.
Entry is free for all spectators.
—@brandon_malvin
