Tuskers suffer third defeat in rain-affected encounter

Brandon Moyo
TUSKERS suffered their third defeat of the 2024 /25 Pro50 Championship season when they succumbed to a four-wicket loss at the hands of Mega Market Mountaineers in a rain-affected match played at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.

This latest defeat has seen the Bulawayo side drop to fourth in the standings with six points, one ahead of bottom-placed Southern Rocks.

Tuskers were asked to field first and were restricted to 170/ 7 in 36.1 overs before rain interrupted the proceedings. The match was reduced to 29 overs after the delay, with Mountaineers’ target set at 160.
The visitors successfully chased down the target in 28.2 overs, finishing on 160/ 6 with just four balls remaining in the innings.

Tuskers lost four quick wickets early on with the bat, leaving the team reeling at 51/ 4 after 10 overs. Tanunurwa Makoni was the first to fall for a golden duck in the second over, leaving the hosts at 6 /1. Will Fraine was bowled out with the last ball of the fourth over, and at that point, Tuskers were on 25/ 2.

Mkosana Mpofu fell in the fifth over, leaving Tuskers at 27/ 3, while the skipper, Tafara Mupariwa, was the last to fall inside the first powerplay.

Veteran Brian Chari played a fighting knock of 61 runs off 70 balls, helping to steady Tuskers’ innings. It was the 33-year-old’s 19th List A half-century, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Tuskers.

Luke Jongwe also played a valuable innings, contributing an unbeaten 39 runs off 58 balls before rain halted their progress.

Victor Nyauchi finished with figures of 3 /35 in six overs for Mountaineers, while Tendai Chatara, Tinashe Muchawaya, and Owen Muzondo each picked up one wicket.

Brandon James was the first to strike for Tuskers in their chase, getting Joylord Gumbie caught behind for 19 runs before Brian Mudzinganyama had Tinashe Chiorah caught for 17 runs, leaving Mountaineers at 52/ 2 after 14 overs.

It was Nick Welch’s unbeaten 63 runs off 39 balls that helped Mountaineers cross the line.

Ernest Masuku was the pick of the Tuskers bowlers with figures of 2/ 30 in five overs, while James, Jongwe, Mudzinganyama, and Mpofu all picked up one wicket each.

Mountaineers now have eight points, tied with second-placed Eagles, and one point behind table-toppers Rhinos, who edged Southern Rocks by six runs (D/L Method) at Kwekwe Sports Club on Wednesday.

Rhinos won the toss and elected to field first, managing to restrict Rocks to 262/ 8 in 48 overs. They were then asked to chase a revised target of 230 runs in 44 overs, which they achieved in exactly 44 overs, thanks to two half-centuries from Antum Naqvi (56) and Takudzwanashe Kaitano (59). Prince Masvaure chipped in with 47 runs.

Dylan Hondo and Roy Kaia — who had earlier scored 91 runs — took two wickets each for Rocks.
Tuskers and Mountaineers will face off in a Logan Cup encounter at Queens Sports Club starting today, while Rhinos and Rocks will also meet at Kwekwe Sports Club. – @brandon_malvin