Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
TUSKERS got their 2022/2023 domestic Twenty20 competition campaign off to a flying start with a thumping eight wickets triumph over Eagles at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The Ainsley Ndlovu captained Tuskers side won the toss, elected to bowl first and managed to restrict their opponents to 76-8 in 13 overs after the match had a delayed start. They went on to finish on 78-2 in 10.3 overs to take home the maximum points in the opener.
Tuskers fast bowlers proved lethal with the ball with Ernest Masuku finishing with the best bowling figures of 3/12 in three overs at an economy rate of four runs per over. Veteran pace bowler Chris Mpofu, fellow seamer Luke Jongwe and left arm spinner Ndlovu all finished with one wicket each.
Kudzai Maunze top scored for Eagles with a 15 ball 22 runs followed by Matt Parkinson’s 18 runs in 25 deliveries and Tadiwanashe Marumani’s 11 runs as the trio finished as the only batters to cross double figures. Tuskers’ fielders were sharp on the field as they effected two run outs.
Tuskers lost the wickets of Nkosana Mpofu and Clive Madande for five and 18 runs respectively.
Tanunurwa Makoni, who was making his T20 debut finished with an unbeaten 42 runs off 32 deliveries and Milton Shumba was 12 not out to help Tuskers comfortably cross the finish line, the Bulawayo reaching the victiory target with 15 balls to spare.
In other matches played yesterday, Mega Market Mountaineers registered a six wickets win over Lions at Old Hararians. Batting first, Lions were posted 136-5 in 15 overs with Awad Naqvi and Hamid Ali top scoring on 35 and 34 runs respectively while Shingi Masakadza took two wickets for Mountaineers.
Peter Moor scored the first half century of the season after he finished on 59 runs not out while Brian Bennett scored 41 runs off 22 deliveries to guide Mountaineers to securing maximum points on the season opener.
In the third match, Rhinos edged Southern Rocks by six wickets at Harare Sports Club in the afternoon game. Rocks were restricted to 121-9 in 20 overs with their top scorer being Gary Ballance with 37 runs and Roy Kaia with 36. Antum Naqvi and Michael Chinouya took four scalps each for Rhinos.
Rhinos went on to score 122-4 in 15 overs with Eddie Byrom top scoring with 34 runs while Ryan Burl made 33 runs not out
After the opening day’s action, Rhinos are sitting on top of the log standings with a superior net run rate followed by Tuskers and Mountaineers who all have four points each. In today’s fixtures, Tuskers square off against Rhinos at Old Hararians while Lions and Rocks will go head to head at the same venue. At Harare Sports Club, Mountaineers have a date with Eagles. – @brandon_malvin.
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