Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
TUSKERS women moved into second place in the Fifty50 Challenge, a provincial cricket competition after registering a six wicket triumph over Mega Market Mountaineers at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday to put pressure on leaders, Eagles.
The win took the Bulawayo-based side to 30 points, the same as Eagles, leaving the teams separated by net run rate. After opting to field first, Tuskers bowled out their opponents for 110 runs in 31 overs and went on to finish on 112/4 in 20.1 overs to win their third game in five matches.
Team captain, Nomvelo Sibanda put up a magnificent display with the ball as she helped restrict Mountaineers to a low score. In seven overs, the left arm seamer took three wickets for 16 runs, with two of her overs not costing a run. She was supported by Lindokuhle Mabhera who finished with 2/8 in three overs while Loreen Tshuma also took two wickets for 19 runs in six overs.
The other wicket takers for Tuskers were Philanthropic Shango, Buhlebenkosi Maposa and Tasmeen Granger who all took one scalp each for 16, 14 and 15 runs respectively. Nyasha Gwanzura top scored for Mountaineers with 32 runs off 46 deliveries while Pellagia Mujaji fell for 20 runs from 30 balls faced.
In their chase, the Trevor Phiri coached Tuskers side lost the wickets of Chiedza Dhururu for five runs, Tshuma for a three-ball duck, Natasha Mthomba went for two runs and Granger contributed 11 runs. Sharne Mayers was the star with the bat, remaining undefeated on 64 runs which came off 65 deliveries to help guide her team to victory. Sibanda also remained not out on five runs to see the team through. Kudzai Chigora and Audrey Cherengo took two wickets each for Mountaineers.
In the other match, log leaders Eagles swept aside Rhinos with a thumping 130 runs win at Goldridge College in Kwekwe. Batting first, Kelis Ndhlovu’s ton helped Eagles finish on 274/7 in 50 overs to give their opponents a mountain to climb. Ndhlovu finished on 109 runs off 102 deliveries while Modester Mupachikwa fell eight runs short of her century on 92 runs from 112 balls.
Eagles went on to restrict Rhinos to 144/9 in 50 overs after a Precious Marange master class with the ball. Marange took four wickets for 25 runs in 10 overs and was supported by Ndhlovu, on the other end who finished with figures 2/20 in 10 overs to be awarded Player of the Match. Christabel Chatonzwa and Olinda Chare took one wicket each.
All-rounder Josephine Nkomo top scored for Rhinos with an unbeaten 63 runs off 119 deliveries while Ashley Ndiraya fell for a run a ball 13 as the duo finished as the team’s leading run getters.
Three teams are tied on 30 points on the standings having played five matches apiece. Eagles are leading the pack, followed by Tuskers and Rhinos while Mountaineers are at the bottom of the log have 10 points after just one win. — @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter