Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
TUSKERS suffered their second consecutive defeat in Zimbabwe Cricket’s domestic Twenty20 competition after losing their match against Southern Rocks by 21 runs at Old Hararians Sports Club in the capital city yesterday.
For the second match running, the Bulawayo side was set to chase a target over 200 after Rocks made 206/4 in 20 overs before Tuskers could only manage 185/6 in their 20 overs to make it one win and two losses in three matches.
After winning the toss and electing to field first, Mgcini Dube, Hamidullah Qadri, Luke Jongwe, and skipper Ainsley Ndlovu all took one wicket each for Tuskers in the match after yet another brilliant half-century from Cephas Zhuwao.
The left handed Zhuwao slammed 67 runs from 37 deliveries, striking at 181. 08 percent which was his second consecutive half-century after he made 53 against the Lions on Tuesday. Gary Ballance remained undefeated on 46 runs off 25 balls and Nick Gubbins fell on 40 runs from 27 balls to help Rocks to a huge score.
Clive Madande scored his first half-century of the season as he top-scored for the Walter Chawaguta-coached Tuskers after he made 56 runs from 36 deliveries. Jongwe remained not out on a 21 ball 35 runs and Tanunurwa Makoni fell for 26 runs as Tuskers succumbed to a second successive defeat.
Roy Kaia and Trevor Mutsamba took two wickets each for Rocks while Gubbins and Keith Jaure picked up one each.
In the other match, Mega Market Mountaineers proved strong for Rhinos after recording victory by 20 runs. Batting first, Mountaineers scored 187/4 in 20 overs courtesy of two half-centuries from Brian Bennett and Tony Munyonga who contributed 62 not out and 79 runs respectively.
Mountaineers bowled out their opponents for 167 runs in 18. 3 overs after a Ryan Burl half-ton. Burl fell for 55 runs off 22 deliveries after Antum Naqvi made 38 runs and Eddie Byrom chipped in with 20 as Rhianos failed to chase down the target.
Veteran pace bowler Donald Tiripano took a fifer for Mountaineers in 3. 3 overs to finish with the figures of 5/17 while Victor Nyauchi took two for 43 runs in four overs.
Eagles registered their second consecutive victory with an eight-wicket triumph over Lions, who are yet to get off the mark. Eagles, the defending champions restricted their opponents to 137/7 in 20 overs and finished on 140/2 in 12.5 overs courtesy of Nick Welch and Wessly Madhevere’s unbeaten half-centuries. Madhevere compiled 50 off 31 balls while Welch made a 32-ball 54 to guide their side to victory.
No games will be played today as teams are on a break with the action to continue tomorrow. Tuskers will be looking to redeem themselves when they face Lions while Rocks will go against Mountaineers and Eagles will play against Rhinos. – @brandon_malvin
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter