Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
TUSKERS finished the 2023 domestic Twenty20 competition in fourth place after losing the third place play off cricket match by 11 runs against Southern Rocks at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
After winning the toss and electing to field first, the Bulawayo based side restricted their opponents to 139/8 in 20 overs and were however bowled out for 128 runs in 19.4 overs.
Pace bowlers, Christopher Mpofu and Luke Jongwe took the most wickets for Tuskers in the match as they finished with the figures of 2/17 and 2/21 in four and three overs respectively. Ernest Masuku, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tanatswa Bechani and Tawanda Maposa all took one wicket each for Walter Chawaguta’s men.
Managing to stop Cephas Zhuwao’s scoring, it was Ben Curran who top scored for Rocks with 50 runs off 36 balls while skipper Richmond Mutumbami remained undefeated on 23 runs off 17 balls and Dylan Hondo fell for 22 runs from 24 balls.
Chasing a target of 140, the top scorers for Tuskers were Tanunurwa Makoni and Clive Madande who made 37 and 34 runs respectively before Maphosa fell for 14 runs to be the only batters to cross double figures for the side.
Sydney Murombo starred with the ball for Rocks, taking 4/21 in 3.4 overs whereas Keith Jaure and Roy Kaia took two each, conceding nine and 29 runs respectively. William Mashinge and Nick Gubbins took one scalp each to round up Tuskers’ innings and claim bronze.
Meanwhile, Eagles managed to defend their title with a thumping 62 runs win over Rhinos in the final at Harare Sports Club.
After being sent in to bat first, the eventual champions Eagles finished on 173/8 in 20 overs courtesy of a Tadiwanashe Marumani half century, the left hander fell for 52 runs off 22 balls. Nick Welch scored 37 runs and Wessly Madhevere made 29 runs to be the teams’ top leading run scorers and managed to bowl out their opponents for 112 runs.
Rhinos batters failed to hit the ground running as Eagles bowlers proved unplayable with Madhevere and Tawanda Dzikiti leading the pack with three wickets each while England international, Matt Parkinson took two in one over. Richard Ngarava and Tanaka Chivanga picked up one scalp each to guide their side to a second consecutive T20 championship.
For Rhinos, Tashinga Musekiwa top scored with 38 runs not out as Ryan Burl fell for 18 runs while Brandon Mavuta and Carl Mumba both scored 11 runs each to be the only batters to cross double figures.
Online Reporter