ZC bans two players for recreational drug use

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has suspended two emerging players for three months for using a recreational drug in an out-of-competition case.

 

The two players were summoned to appear for a disciplinary hearing after they were reported to ZC by a concerned citizen who caught them red-handed partaking in suspected substance abuse within the premises of a private residential complex.

 

They admitted to using a social drug on the day in question, resulting in each one of them receiving a three-month ban from cricket activities for breaching the ZC Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials under which they were charged.

 

The Disciplinary Committee noted that had they committed the offence in competition, they would have been charged under ZC’s anti-doping rules and attracted stiffer sanctions, including a ban of up to two years.

 

The two players are first-time offenders and ZC has opted to keep their identities confidential in order to give them the best chance of rehabilitation.

Glamorgan, Durham win again to complete T20 dominance

Southerns – 129-9 in 20 overs (Roy Kaia 30*, Innocent Kaia 25, Brian Bennett 20; Jamie McIlroy 2/5, Dan Douthwaite 2/24, Eddie Byrom 1/10)

Glamorgan – 130-2 in 12 overs (Chris Cooke 62*, Eddie Byrom 27, David Lloyd 23*; Roy Kaia 1/21, Ernest Masuku 1/27)

 

Glamorgan won by eight overs

A brilliant innings of 62 not out by wicket-keeper Chris Cooke swept Glamorgan to an eight-wicket victory over Southerns in their T20 match at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Southerns decided to bat on winning the toss, but suffered an early shock when their prize hitter, Cephas Zhuwao, was caught off Jamie McIlroy in the first over without a run on the board.

Clive Madande soon followed for four, but Innocent Kaia with 25 and Brian Bennett with 20 put up a useful partnership for the third wicket, taking the score to 56.

The rest of the batters pushed the score along at quite a good pace, but wickets kept falling and they were in need of a dominating innings to give them a winning score.

Roy Kaia held the later part of the innings together with 30 not out off 36 balls, while Tashinga Musekiwa hit two sixes in scoring 17 off 10 balls, as the innings closed at 129 for nine after 20 overs.

McIlroy had the impressive bowling figures of two wickets for five runs in three overs.

Glamorgan lost Thomas Bevan for 10 to Ernest Masuku in the second over, but then came a dynamic partnership of 91 for the second wicket in only eight overs between Eddie Byrom and Cooke.

Byrom scored freely to make 27 off 21 balls, but he was quite overshadowed by Cooke, whose 62 not out came off only 33 balls, and contained three sixes and eight fours.

After Byrom was out at 102, the captain David Lloyd came in and hit 23 not out off only 10 balls to complete a comprehensive victory for Glamorgan.

All the main bowlers went at 10 or more runs per over except for Roy Kaia, who took the wicket of Byrom for 21 runs in three overs.

*********************************************************

Northerns – 127-8 in 20 overs (Tanu Makoni 24, Wessly Madhevere 22, Nyasha Mayavo 20; Scott Borthwick 5/16, Liam Trevaskis 1/14, Paul Coughlin 1/21)

Durham – 131-6 in 13.2 overs (Scott Borthwick 27, Liam Trevaskis 23*, Matthew Potts 17*; Carl Mumba 2/12, Victor Nyauchi 2/27, Wessly Madhevere 1/32)

 

Durham won by four wickets

A remarkable five-wicket bowling performance by Scott Borthwick broke the back of the Northerns innings and played the major part in Durham’s four-wicket victory in their T20 meeting at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Northerns batted first on winning the toss, losing the wicket of Nkosana Mpofu to Liam Trevaskis in the second over.

Wessly Madhevere scored 22 off 18 balls, and Northerns were looking well set when after 11 overs their score was 72 for two wickets.

Then, however, Borthwick struck, having Tadiwanashe Marumani caught for 15 and three balls later bowling out Tanu Makoni for 24.

His next over saw two more wickets, Tony Munyonga stumped for one and Carl Mumba caught for two, and Northerns suddenly found themselves reduced to six wickets down for 79.

Nyasha Mayavo hit well to recover the position, with help from Faraz Akram (7), and they did well to add 28 in three overs.

At 107 Borthwick struck again with his fifth wicket in having Mayavo caught for 22 off 19 balls, and it was left to Ainsley Ndlovu and Victor Nyauchi to score seven and 12 respectively, both unbeaten, to reach a final score of 127 for eight.

Durham had only a moderate target to chase and they were after a quick victory, but some good bowling from the Northerns team cost them seven wickets before they got home.

Openers Michael Jones (16) and Graham Clark (13) hit 32 runs off the first two overs, but Nyauchi bowled them both out in his first over.

All their batters scored at better than a run a ball, but the highest innings – and best of the match – came from Borthwick himself, who scored 27 off 16 balls before he was run out by Makoni.

When the sixth wicket went down for 94, in only the 10th over, Northerns found themselves in with a chance of victory.

However, Trevaskis with 23 not out and Matthew Potts, 17 not out, then steadied the innings and in another four overs had completed another victory for the county team.

Mumba, with two for 12 off his two overs, had the best bowling figures for Northerns.

Durham run amok, Glamorgan pluck victory from jaws of defeat

Durham – 246-5 in 20 overs (Graham Clark 77, Alex Lees 52, Ollie Robinson 44*; Tanaka Chivanga 2/43, Brandon Mavuta 1/38, Alex Falao 1/38)

Southerns – 117 all out in 17.1 overs (Clive Madande 28, Roy Kaia 18, Cephas Zhuwao 17; Brandon Glover 2/9, George Drissell 2/27, Matthew Potts 1/7)

 

Durham won by 129 runs

 

A brilliant opening partnership of 140 in 10.3 overs between the Durham openers, Alex Lees and Graham Clark, virtually decided their T20 match against Southerns at Harare Sports Club on Thursday morning, which they went on to win by 129 runs.

Right from the start, after deciding to bat, they attacked the bowling in full measure, and in the second over, from Alex Falao, Clark hit five fours – with five wides also included, the over cost 27 runs.

After four overs the score was 62 and they brought up the team hundred in the eighth over.

In the 11th over Brandon Mavuta finally broke the stand by having Clark caught for 77, scored off 37 balls with a six and 13 fours.

 

In the following over Tanaka Chivanga bowled out Lees for 52 off 33 balls, having hit eight fours.

 

As the whole team followed this full attacking policy five wickets were down for 181 in the 16th over, but just when it seemed that Southerns were pulling back to an extent, the Durham wicket-keeper Ollie Robinson was joined by Ben Raine.

This pair put the final nails in the Southerns coffin by adding 65 in the last four overs and two balls, to take the score to 246 for five wickets after 20 overs.

Robinson’s 44 not out came from 22 balls, while Raine, also not out, made 35 off 17.

Remarkably for such a high total, only four sixes were registered, but the bowlers went for 32 fours.

All the main bowlers used went for nine or more runs an over, but Chivanga had two wickets as compensation for 43 runs off his four overs.

Perhaps only a stupendous innings from Cephas Zhuwao could have taken Southerns close to such a remarkable total, and he did briefly threaten, hitting two sixes and a four in making 17 off nine balls before being caught at the wicket off Brandon Glover.

Clive Madande did best of the batters in scoring 28 off 19 balls, while Roy Kaia’s 18 off 29 balls did at least prevent a bad collapse.

Mavuta with 11 was the only other batter to reach double figures before the team was dismissed for 117 in 17.1 overs, unable to reach half the colossal Durham score.

Glover was the most successful bowler with two for nine in three overs.

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Northerns – 122 all out in 19.1 overs (Tony Munyonga 31, Shingi Masakadza 19, Tadiwanashe Marumani 14; Timm van der Gugten 4/14, Andrew Salter 2/15, Zain-ul-Hassan 2/28)

Glamorgan – 124-7 in 20 overs (Zain-ul-Hassan 39*, Callum Taylor 21, Andrew Salter 15; Wessly Madhevere 2/16, Shingi Masakadza 2/27, Carl Mumba 1/6) 

 

Glamorgan won by three wickets

Pakistan-born all-rounder Zain-ul-Hasan was Glamorgan’s hero as he steered the county side from apparent disaster, coming in to bat when they looked doomed to defeat at 58 for five wickets chasing 123 to win against Northerns in the second T20 match at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Batting with superb skill and temperament, he scored 39 not out, hitting a six off the last delivery of the match to complete a victory over a spirited Northerns team by three wickets in a thrilling finish.

Northerns decided to bat on winning the toss, but their innings never really got off the ground.

The first few batters all tried to get after the bowling in aggressive fashion, but lost their wickets cheaply.

Tadiwanashe Marumani briefly gave hope of a good innings, scoring 14 off 10 balls with three fours, but he was then stumped by Andrew Salter.

The top five batter were all gone with the score on 45 within seven overs, but there followed the only real stand of the innings, as Tony Munyonga and Shingi Masakadza, two players well known for rescuing their teams, came together.

They added 39 runs in seven overs before Munyonga was caught for 31 off 34 balls, the only batter in the team to pass 20.

Masakadza was out for 19, and the tail did not add very much, so Northerns were dismissed for 122 in the final over.

Timm van der Gugten was the most successful of the tourists’ bowlers with four wickets for 14 runs off 3.1 overs.

When Glamorgan batted, they lost their star batter Sam Northeast, caught off Richard Ngarava for 10, in the third over, the score being 21.

Callum Taylor scored 21, but he was highest scorer of the top six as wickets began to tumble.

In four overs the score went from 41 for two wickets to 58 for six, and Glamorgan were now in serious trouble in the ninth over.

Zain-ul-Hassan and Salter now fought hard to recover the situation, and with four overs left they were still together, but needed another 30 runs.

At this point Salter fell to a catch off Masakadza, having made a valuable 15 off 25 balls, and James Harris came in.

Masakadza was given the final over, with Glamorgan needing nine runs to win.

With great skill he kept the scoring down to four runs off the first five balls, only for ul-Hassan to hit the last ball for six to win the match for Glamorgan in the most dramatic way possible.

Ul-Hasan finished with 39 not out off 37 balls – the highest individual score of the match – while Harris had 10 off eight.

Madhevere was the best of the bowlers, taking two wickets for 16 runs off his four overs.

Northeast, Lees hit fifties as county sides ease to T20 victories

Glamorgan – 172-5 in 20 overs (Sam Northeast 76*, David Lloyd 31, Callum Taylor 27; Luke Jongwe 2/33, Tanaka Chivanga 2/45, Brandon Mavuta 1/24)

Southerns – 115 all out in 17.2 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 23, Innocent Kaia 18, Johnathan Campbell 15; Dan Douthwaite 3/8, Jamie McIlroy 2/26, Prem Sisodiya 2/27)

 

Glamorgan won by 57 runs

Sam Northeast, the man who scored 410 not out in a first-class county match last year, was the match-winner for Glamorgan as the county side defeated Southerns by 57 runs in the first T20 encounter at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday morning.

He opened the batting when Richmond Mutumbami put Glamorgan in to bat on winning the toss, and batted throughout the innings to score a fine 78 not out.

Northeast lost his first two partners with just 21 runs on the board in the fifth over, but then shared a stand of 55 in seven overs with his captain, David Lloyd, who made 31.

Callum Taylor with 27 off 18 balls, and then Chris Cooke, who smashed 21 runs off only eight balls at the depth, also helped him take the county side to a score of 172 for five wickets.

Northeast himself did not indulge in such concentrated pyrotechnics, but his 76 came off 49 balls and he hit three sixes and six fours.

There were two wickets each for Tanaka Chivanga, who paid 45 runs for them, and Luke Jongwe, but Brandon Mavuta was the most economical bowler with one for 24 off his four overs.

This gave Southerns a difficult target to chase, but Innocent Kaia did his best with four early boundaries and 18 off 15 balls.

But none of the home batters could play Northeast’s role or score more than 25.

The highest scorer was Cephas Zhuwao, who opened the innings with Kaia but had less than his fair share of the bowling.

He scored 23 off 18 balls, with two trademark sixes, and was fourth out at 61 in the ninth over.

The middle order flickered briefly, but nobody lasted long and Southerns were bowled out for 115 in the 18th over.

Six Glamorgan bowlers shared the wickets, with Dan Douthwaite claiming the best figures of three for eight off 2.2 overs.

**************************************************************

Northerns – 124 all out in 16.3 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 24, Carl Mumba 22, Nkosana Mpofu 20; Liam Trevaskis 3/19, Oliver Gibson 2/13, Brandon Glover 2/23)

Durham – 125-1 in 11.3 overs (Alex Lees 55*, Michael Jones 35, David Bedingham 34*; Tawanda Dzikiti 1/29)

 

Durham won by nine wickets

Brilliant batting led by Alex Lees swept Durham to an easy nine-wicket victory over Northerners in the second T20 at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Northerns on winning the toss decided to bat, but lost Wessly Madhevere off the third ball of the innings to Brydon Carse, with only a wide on the board.

There followed the only significant partnership of the innings, as Nkosana Mpofu with 20 and Tadiwanashe Marumani with 24 put on 46 for the second wicket in five overs.

Both were out to successive deliveries, and the only other batters to show any success were Joylord Gumbie with 19 and Carl Mumba with 22 off 14 balls, including two sixes and a four.

Liam Trevaskis took three wickets in quick succession in the middle order and six wickets were down for 81 before Mumba began to hit.

The innings ended in the 17th over for 124, Trevaskis finishing with three for 19 in three overs.

This left Durham with a comparatively easy target, and Lees was soon getting after the bowling, hitting 10 runs from Victor Nyauchi’s first over.

He scored 22 out of the 26 runs on the board after three overs, but then his partner Michael Jones got to face, and he was even more brutal.

He hit three fours in four balls off Mumba, and then hammered Tawanda Dzikiti for four successive boundaries before he was caught by Madhevere off the fifth for 35 off 15 balls – 57 for one in five overs.

David Bedingham joined Lees, and the two of them put the Northerns bowling to the slaughter, as they swept to victory without further loss.

In the 12th over Lees allowed Mpofu to bowl only three deliveries, hitting him for four, four and six, the last stroke bringing up his fifty (55 not out, two sixes, seven fours) off 31 balls and ending the match in victory after only 11.3 overs.

Bedingham finished not out with 34 off 23 balls, with two sixes and three fours.

Ndlovu with 10 runs off two overs was the only bowler to escape punishment.

ZC announces sides to face Durham and Glamorgan in T20 series

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has announced the Northerns and Southerns squads that will face English county sides Durham and Glamorgan in a T20 series scheduled to start this Wednesday in the capital.

 

A total of six matches will be played between the teams over three days at Harare Sports Club.

 

Southerns will take on Glamorgan in the first match of the series on Wednesday, starting at 9.30 am, before a 1.30 pm clash pitting Northerns against Durham completes the day’s action.

 

On Thursday, Southerns will face Durham in the morning fixture, while Northerns will play Glamorgan in the afternoon.

 

The last two T20 matches are pencilled in for Friday, with Southerns and Glamorgan clashing first before Northerns meet Durham again.

 

The county teams, who are among the top first-class clubs within the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, are visiting Zimbabwe as part of their pre-season programmes.

 

ZC has selected youthful squads that will be boosted by the presence of a few experienced campaigners in the series against the tourists.

 

NORTHERNS: Akram Faraz, Dzikiti Tawanda, Gumbie Joylord, Madhevere Wessly, Makoni Tanunurwa, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Shingirai, Mayavo Nyasha, Mpofu Nkosana, Mumba Carl, Munyonga Tony, Ndlovu Ainsley, Ngarava Richard, Nyauchi Victor

 

SOUTHERNS: Bennett Brian, Campbell Johnathan, Chatara Tendai, Chivanga Tanaka, Falao Alex, Jaure Keith, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Kaia Roy, Madande Clive, Masuku Ernest, Mavuta Brandon, Musekiwa Tashinga, Mutumbami Richmond, Zhuwao Cephas

 

MATCH SCHEDULE: DURHAM AND GLAMORGAN IN ZIMBABWE 2023

 

DATE

FORMAT

MATCH

VENUE

TIME

8 March 2023

T20

Glamorgan v Southerns

Harare Sports Club

09.30

Durham v Northerns

Harare Sports Club

13.30

9 March 2023

T20

Durham v Southerns

Harare Sports Club

09.30

Glamorgan v Northerns

Harare Sports Club

13.30

10 March 2023

T20

Glamorgan v Southerns

Harare Sports Club

09.30

Durham v Northerns

Harare Sports Club

13.30

12 March 2023

One-Day

Durham v Northerns

Old Hararians

09.15

Glamorgan v Southerns

Harare Sports Club

09.15

14 March 2023

One-Day

Durham v Southerns

Harare Sports Club

09.15

Glamorgan v Northerns

Old Hararians

09.15

Eagles lift Domestic T20 trophy after thrashing Rhinos in final

Eagles – 173-8 in 20 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 52, Nick Welch 37, Wessly Madhevere 29; Prince Masvaure 3/25, Johnathan Campbell 1/20, Mike Chinouya 1/22)

Rhinos – 111 all out in 14.4 overs (Tashinga Musekiwa 38*, Ryan Burl 18, Brandon Mavuta 11; Wessly Madhevere 3/15, Tawanda Dzikiti 3/27, Matt Parkinson 2/4)

 

Eagles won by 62 runs

 

A brilliant innings of 52 by Tadiwanashe Marumani was the highlight of a one-sided final as Eagles defeated a nervy Rhinos team by 62 runs to lift the Domestic Twenty20 Competition trophy at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

Rhinos won the toss and followed the usual course by putting their opponents in, but as has been the case quite often during this tournament, it proved to be a regrettable decision.

Mike Chinouya struck in his first over, having Kudzai Maunze caught for five.

Then Nick Welch and Wessly Madhevere attacked the bowling in fine style, adding 52 for the second wicket in six overs before Brandon Mavuta broke the stand by bowling Madhevere for 29 off 25 balls.

Chamu Chibhabha scored 15, and then Marumani announced his arrival by hitting the first two deliveries he faced, from Johnathan Campbell, for four and six.

Soon afterwards Welch was out for a well-played 37 off 33 balls, and it was fortunate for Eagles that Marumani was in good form, for the later batters did little.

Marumani thrashed the bowling brilliantly to score 52 off only 22 balls, finally going out in the 19th over to Prince Masvaure with the score at 162 for six.

A few more runs were scored to take the total to 173 for eight, Tanaka Chivanga being out for “obstructing the field” off the final delivery.

 

Rhinos’ target of 174 was not easy, but it was certainly possible.

However, their innings was a disaster virtually from beginning to end, and after such an impressive tournament until now, it would appear that they were unnerved by the big occasion.

In the third over, with the score on 11, Masvaure was given out lbw to Madhevere for four, and two balls later Eddie Byrom perished the same way for two.

Tarisai Musakanda was then lbw to Richard Ngarava, which meant three batters were out lbw in four balls.

Madhevere himself took three wickets in four balls when with the first ball of his next over he bowled out Campbell for one.

The score was 15 for four, and after this the batters appeared to hit out recklessly and hopelessly.

Mavuta hit 11 runs off four balls before hitting his wicket down off the fifth, while Ryan Burl was out for 18 off seven balls.

When Madziva went out for four, eight wickets were down for 61 in 9.1 overs, and not one of them had survived more than 10 balls.

Tashinga Musekiwa however became the first Rhinos batter to break this barrier, as he showed more fight than some of the bigger names and reached 24 off 12 balls.

He shared the largest stand of the innings with Carl Mumba, 32 for the ninth wicket, before the latter was out for 11 off nine balls.

Chinouya came in last and hit a four, so remarkably in such a poor innings each batter had scored at least one run.

Musekiwa continued to bat with admirable fighting spirit until Chinouya was out for four, ending the innings at 111 in the 15th over.

He scored 38 not out off 20 balls, and was the one Rhinos batter able to go home with his head held high.

Madhevere took three top-order wickets for 15 runs in three overs, while Tawanda Dzikiti had three later wickets for 27.

*********************************************************

 

Southern Rocks – 139-8 in 20 overs (Ben Curran 50, Richmond Mutumbami 23*, Dylan Hondo 22; Chris Mpofu 2/17, Luke Jongwe 2/21, Tawanda Maposa 1/10)

Tuskers – 128 all out in 19.4 overs (Tanu Makoni 37, Clive Madande 34, Tawanda Maposa 14; Sydney Murombo 4/21, Keith Jaure 2/9, Roy Kaia 2/29)

 

Southern Rocks won by 11 runs

Ben Curran with the bat and Sydney Murombo with the ball were the main heroes for Southern Rocks as they fought back to beat Tuskers for third place in this tournament by 11 runs in an exciting finish.

Tuskers had appeared to have the upper hand for most of the match.

They followed the usual but not always successful policy of putting their opponents in to bat on winning the toss.

They were jubilant when in the second over Luke Jongwe caught their most feared adversary, Cephas Zhuwao, off the bowling of Ernest Masuku for two.

This brought to an end Zhuwao’s run of four successive destructive fifties.

Curran stepped into the breach, though, with a fine attacking innings of 50 off only 36 balls, with eight fours to his credit.

He had good support from Roy Kaia and Gary Ballance with 13 apiece, but when he was out at 83 for four the middle order failed and seven were out for 95 in the 14th over.

Richmond Mutumbami (23 not out) and Dylan Hondo (22) put on 31, but a total of 139 for eight wickets was not one Rocks would have been happy with.

Chris Mpofu was the most successful of the bowlers, with two wickets for 17 in his four overs.

As he did in their final round-robin match on Saturday, Tanu Makoni played a sound anchor innings for Tuskers when they replied.

 

When Clive Madande scored a fine 34 off 27 balls, they seemed well set for victory at 82 for two in the 13th over.

But then none of the middle-order batters could get going for long, and wickets began to fall to the mixed attack.

Danger signals were evident for Tuskers when Jongwe was out for eight at 94 for four and 46 runs were needed off the last five overs.

Only Tawanda Maposa with 14 off six balls reached double figures, before he was bowled by Murombo at 120 for six – 20 needed off the last 16 balls.

Only three runs were scored off the next eight balls by Makoni and Masuku, and this failure spelled Tuskers’ doom.

Then Keith Jaure took two wickets with successive balls, while two balls later Murombo had Mpofu caught, leaving Tuskers reeling at 125 for nine with five balls left.

Makoni, almost left stranded, hit out, but was caught off Murombo for 37 (44 balls) to end the match, Tuskers finishing 12 runs short with only two balls left.

Murombo took four vital wickets for 21 in 3.4 overs, while Jaure, with two wickets for nine in his three overs, also struck at just the right time for Rocks.

 

2022/23 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION AWARDS:

• Centurion Master Blaster – Tadiwanashe Marumani (Eagles)

• Player of the Match (Final) – Wessly Madhevere (Eagles)

• Bowler of the Tournament – Tanaka Chivanga (Eagles)

• Batter of the Tournament – Cephas Zhuwao (Southern Rocks)

• Player of the Tournament – Cephas Zhuwao (Southern Rocks)

• Champions – Eagles

• Runners-Up – Rhinos

Thriller on the cards as Rhinos face Eagles in Domestic T20 final

Rhinos – 207-5 in 20 overs (Nyasha Mayavo 64, Ryan Burl 36*, Johnathan Campbell 31; Marshal Takodza 2/28, Kudakwashe Macheka 2/35, Brighton Chipungu 1/19)

Lions – 140-9 in 20 overs (Alistair Frost 61, Bright Phiri 22, Christopher Masike 19; Davis Murwendo 3/20, Neville Madziva 2/12, Prince Masvaure 2/24) 

 

Rhinos won by 67 runs

Rhinos thrashed Lions by 67 runs at Harare Sports Club on Saturday to secure their place in the Domestic T20 Competition final after topping the round-robin standings.

 

They will face the second-placed Eagles in Sunday’s championship decider at the same venue, scheduled to start at 1.30 pm.

 

Wicket-keeper Nyasha Mayavo was the leading figure in a good team performance that led to their victory over Lions.

He came to the wicket when Rhinos, put in to bat, had lost their first two wickets for 20 runs to Marshal Takodza, and proceeded to hit up 64 off 37 balls, which included 10 fours.

Mayavo shared a third-wicket partnership of 82 runs with Prince Masvaure, who played a secondary role very well and made 27 off 23 balls.

Johnathan Campbell (31 off 20 balls) and Ryan Burl (36 not out off 23) hit well towards the end as Rhinos passed the 200 mark, reaching 207 for five after their 20 overs.

Takodza took two for 35 off his four overs, but like all the bowlers was expensive.

Lions were under great pressure to score quickly, made harder when they lost their openers with only three runs on the board.

Bright Phiri (22 off 15 balls) and Alistair Frost (61 off 43) added 54 for the fourth wicket in less than six overs, but after that there was not enough batting to come, and after their 20 overs they had lost nine wickets for 140 runs.

They did manage to survive the menace of Brandon Mavuta, who took only one wicket for 30.

Davis Murwendo was the most successful bowler with three for 20, while Neville Madziva was the most economical with two for 12 in three overs.

Their fourth victory in five matches gave Rhinos top place on the points table and a place in Sunday’s final.

*******************************************************

Southern Rocks – 173-8 in 20 overs (Ben Curran 58, Cephas Zhuwao 57, Richmond Mutumbami 12*; Tanaka Chivanga 5/26, Matt Parkinson 1/16, Wessly Madhevere 1/29)

Eagles – 174-3 in 15.4 overs (Wessly Madhevere 63, Kudzai Maunze 50, Tadiwanashe Marumani 29*; Roy Kaia 1/22, Cephas Zhuwao 1/30)

 

Eagles won by seven wickets

A devastating bowling spell by Tanaka Chivanga, followed by brilliant fifties from Wessly Madhevere and Kudzai Maunze, brought Eagles a surprisingly easy victory over Southern Rocks by seven wickets with 4.2 overs to spare at Old Hararians Sports Club on Saturday.

This result was particularly surprising because Rocks, put in to bat, made an excellent start to their innings, with Cephas Zhuwao scoring his fourth successive fifty in the tournament as he was dismissed at the end of the ninth over for 57 off 37 balls, with three sixes and six fours.

With Ben Curran almost matching him stroke for stroke, Rocks then had 88 runs on the board and were well set for another 200-plus total.

This still looked likely at 145 for two wickets after 15 overs, but at this point Chivanga began his work of destruction.

He first had the Nick Gubbins caught for eight, Curran fell to Richard Ngarava for 58 off only 43 balls, and Gary Ballance went to Chivanga for four.

At this point the tail simply crashed before Chivanga, who took two wickets in both of his next two overs – 145 for three became 173 for nine, and the only batter to withstand him was Richmond Mutumbami, who was left unbeaten with 12.

Chivanga’s figures were five wickets for 26 runs, the only Eagles bowler to make an impression.

Eagles suffered the loss of Nick Welch, run out by Curran off the second ball of the innings without a run on the board, but after that it was their match all the way.

Maunze was in his most brilliant form as he raced to 50 before he was stumped, having faced only 26 balls and hit a six and eight fours.

Madhevere was in similarly excellent form, and he went on to make 63 off 36 balls, even more spectacularly, with four sixes and six fours.

He went at 130 for three, but then Chamu Chibhabha and Tadiwanashe Marumani continued the onslaught on the hapless bowlers, both finishing with 29 not out when victory was achieved, off 19 and 11 balls respectively.

 

Marumani’s 29 included four sixes.

Only one bowler managed to command any respect, and that was Roy Kaia, who dismissed Maunze and conceded only 22 runs off his four overs.

Eagles will thus play the final of this tournament against Rhinos at Harare Sports Club on Sunday after finishing the round-robin stage with 12 points as did Rocks, but with a better net run rate.

*******************************************************

Tuskers – 140-6 in 20 overs (Tanu Makoni 57, Luke Jongwe 32, Alvin Chiradza 18; Mashford Shungu 3/23, Tinashe Muchawaya 1/18, Donald Tiripano 1/23)

Mega Market Mountaineers – 101 all out in 16.2 overs (Tinashe Muchawaya 45*, Tony Munyonga 14, Victor Nyauchi 13; Ernest Masuku 3/20, Chris Mpofu 2/12, Mgcini Dube 2/21)

 

Tuskers won by 39 runs

A solid maiden T20 fifty from Tanu Makoni proved to be the vital factor as Tuskers claimed a 39-run victory over Mega Market Mountaineers in a comparatively low-scoring match at Harare Sports Club on Saturday afternoon.

Tuskers, put in to bat, struggled for runs from the start.

They owed almost everything to their opening batter, Makoni, who scored most of the early runs and took most of the bowling, losing Simba Haukozi for two and Clive Madande for six out of a score of 42 for two.

Alvin Chiradza with 18 and Luke Jongwe 32 supported him well, but Tuskers were rarely able to score at much better than a run a ball.

Makoni was finally out for 57 off 54 balls, with nine fours, having held the side together, but without really being able to dominate the bowling.

Jongwe hit out towards the end, but the final score of 140 for six wickets did not appear to be very good, considering some of the much bigger scores achieved during this tournament.

Mashford Shungu was the most successful of the bowlers, with three wickets for 23.

However, Mountaineers made such a disastrous start that Tuskers quickly found themselves well on top.

A wicket fell in each of the first five overs in the Mountaineers innings – Spencer Magodo zero, Timycen Maruma one, Brian Bennett five, Kevin Kasuza six and Tony Munyonga 14 – and the score was 28 for five.

To add to Mountaineers’ woes, PJ Moor suffered a finger injury in the field and was unable to bat.

Two overs later Donald Tiripano went for six – 40 for six – but then Tinashe Muchawaya played a heroic innings to save his team from disgrace, if not defeat.

He put on 41 for the seventh wicket with Victor Nyauchi (13) and took the score past 100 with eight wickets down.

The last wicket fell at 101, the solitary bright light being Muchawaya’s innings that remained unbeaten at 45, scored off 37 balls.

The first three bowlers used shared the honours, with three wickets to Ernest Masuku and two each to Chris Mpofu and Mgcini Dube.

This result puts Mountaineers out of the tournament, leaving Tuskers to meet Rocks in the third-place play-off at Harare Sports Club on Sunday, starting at 9.30 am.

 

2022/23 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

TEAM

M

W

L

T

NR

PTS

NRR

Rhinos

5

4

1

0

0

16

1.476

Eagles

5

3

2

0

0

12

0.893

Southern Rocks

5

3

2

0

0

12

0.208

Tuskers

5

3

2

0

0

12

0.208

Mountaineers

5

2

3

0

0

8

-0.471

Lions

5

0

5

0

0

0

-2.605

Mavuta clips Eagles wings, another Zhuwao fifty rocks Mountaineers

Rhinos – 171-8 in 20 overs (Johnathan Campbell 46, Ryan Burl 35, Brandon Mavuta 26*; Tawanda Dzikiti 3/16, Matt Parkinson 2/22, Alex Falao 2/32)

Eagles – 153-8 in 20 overs (Nick Welch 68, Tanaka Chivanga 32*, Alex Falao 12*; Brandon Mavuta 4/28, Neville Madziva 2/25, Carl Mumba 1/12)

Rhinos won by 18 runs 

Another magical spell of bowling by Brandon Mavuta badly undermined the Eagles batting and led to their defeat at the hands of Rhinos by a margin of 18 runs in a Domestic Twenty20 Competition match at Old Hararians Sports Club on Friday.

Rhinos, put in to bat, quickly lost two wickets to Alex Falao, and despite 21 from their opener Eddie Byrom were in deep trouble when their fifth wicket went down for only 53 runs on the board in the ninth over.

The situation was saved by some daring hitting from Johnathan Campbell (46 off 32 balls) and Ryan Burl (35 off 20), who put on 56 for the sixth wicket, more than doubling the score in less than five overs.

Mavuta also played his part with the bat, scoring 26 not out off 17 balls, and thanks to these three Rhinos were able to finish with a very presentable 171 for eight wickets.

Tawanda Dzikiti did well to take three wickets for 16 runs in three overs, while Falao after his valuable early wickets took some stick and was hit for 32.

Eagles began their chase with Nick Welch and Tadiwanashe Marumani, who raced to 23 in the third over, when Mavuta came on and bowled Marumani for nine off five balls, and had Wessly Madhevere caught without addition two balls later.

There followed a steady collapse of the Eagles middle order, with seven successive batters dismissed for single-figure scores.

Mavuta returned in the middle of the innings to take two more cheap wickets, and when he removed Faraz Akram for three Eagles had six wickets down for 91.

Welch was the only batter who could resist him, and he was batting brilliantly at one end, a lone act.

But when he was eventually caught off Neville Madziva for 68 (59 balls, a six and eight fours) to make the score 108 for seven in the 16th over, Eagles were doomed.

In the last 3.3 overs Tanaka Chivanga (32 not out off 15 balls) and Falao (12 not out) hit out desperately to add 41 runs, but the task was too great.

Mavuta with four wickets for 28 had turned the match, while Madziva with two for 25 played his part well.

********************************************************

Tuskers – 170 all out in 19.1 overs (Clive Madande 42, Taffy Mupariwa 30, Nkosana Mpofu 26; Kudakwashe Macheka 4/30, Tendekai Mataranyika 3/34, Marshal Takodza 1/11)

Lions – 155-8 in 20 overs (Christopher Masike 42, Hamid Ali 40, Trevor Gwandu 21; Ernest Masuku 3/38, Ainsley Ndlovu 2/23, Milton Shumba 1/7)

Tuskers won by 15 runs

Despite gallant innings from Hamid Ali with 40 and Christopher Masike with 42, Lions went down by 15 runs to Tuskers at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

They put Tuskers in to bat, but the latter were given a good start by Nkosana Mpofu (26 off 16 balls) and Clive Madande (42 off 27), who took the score to 51 before the second wicket fell in the sixth over.

Madande then found another fine partner in Taffy Mupariwa, who hit 30 off 24, and they added 62 for the fourth wicket in less than seven overs.

Luke Jongwe scored 22 off 13 balls, but three quick wickets at the end for Kuda Macheka brought Lions the distinction of bowling their opponents out for 170 with five balls left unbowled.

Macheka finished with four for 30, while Tendekai Mataranyika had three for 34.

Ali gave Lions a good start, his 40 coming off 38 balls, but when Masike reached the crease the score was 64 for two in the 11th over, which meant that the required run rate was now more than 10 an over, a difficult task for their talented but inexperienced team.

There was a useful 15 by Alistair Frost and 21 from Trevor Gwandu, but the young Lions were never quite able to make up the difference, and their worthy attempt finished 16 runs short of victory.

Ernest Masuku took three valuable middle-order wickets for 38 to finish as the best bowler.

********************************************************

Mega Market Mountaineers – 209-7 in 20 overs (PJ Moor 45, Shingi Masakadza 42, Timycen Maruma 24; Nick Gubbins 3/27, Keith Jaure 3/41, Dylan Hondo 1/43)

Southern Rocks – 210-4 in 18.2 overs (Nick Gubbins 57*, Cephas Zhuwao 55, Roy Kaia 45; Wellington Masakadza 2/42, Brian Bennett 1/21, Victor Nyauchi 1/43)

Southern Rocks won by six wickets

A sensational innings of 55 off 22 balls by the legendary Cephas Zhuwao paved the way for Southern Rocks to record a remarkable six-wicket victory over Mega Market Mountaineers, who totalled 209, at Harare Sports Club on Friday afternoon.

Mountaineers, put in to bat, had a very good innings with most of their batters contributing usefully.

PJ Moor dominated the early part of the innings, scoring 45 off 31 balls, with four sixes and three fours.

He received help from Kevin Kasuza, who hit out to score 22 off 12 balls, with two sixes and two fours.

At 143 for six in the 16th over, though, it seemed as if a good innings might be fading away, only for Shingi Masakadza to play one of his devastating knocks, as he thrashed the bowling for 42 off only 16 balls, with four sixes and three fours.

This was the necessary impetus to push the score over the 200 mark, and Mountaineers finished on 209 for seven wickets, a daunting target for Rocks.

Keith Jaure took three wickets for 41, while Nick Gubbins did particularly well amid the carnage to take three for only 27 in four overs, which proved to be by far the most economical bowling of the day.

It was a job for Zhuwao now, and he did not disappoint his admirers.

Tony Munyonga bowled the first over of the Rocks innings, and it went for an amazing 26 runs – including a four and two sixes from Zhuwao as well as a wide that gave away five runs.

In the second over Brian Mudzinganyama was out for one, but Roy Kaia gave Zhuwao good support and after only four overs 63 runs were on the board.

Zhuwao reached his brilliant fifty off only 20 balls, including six sixes and four fours, and brought up the team hundred in the seventh over, but at this point he was caught and bowled by Wellington Masakadza for 55.

However, he had left Rocks a manageable 109 runs to score off 13.2 overs, and his team, inspired by his innings, did not let him down.

The two men who continued the good work were Kaia with 45 off 28 balls and Gubbins, 57 not out off 37, as they took Rocks home with all of 10 deliveries to spare.

All of the bowlers suffered severe punishment, but at least Wellington Masakadza had two wickets as compensation.

2022/23 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

TEAM

M

W

L

T

NR

PTS

NRR

Rhinos

4

3

1

0

0

12

0.988

Southern Rocks

4

3

1

0

0

12

0.918

Eagles

4

2

2

0

0

8

0.557

Mountaineers

4

2

2

0

0

8

-0.078

Tuskers

4

2

2

0

0

8

-0.258

Lions

4

0

4

0

0

0

-2.368

Mountaineers stop Rhinos as tight battle to reach T20 final rages

Mega Market Mountaineers – 187-4 in 20 overs (Tony Munyonga 79, Brian Bennett 62*, Kevin Kasuza 20; Carl Mumba 2/37, Mike Chinouya 1/17, Neville Madziva 1/32)

Rhinos – 167 all out in 18.3 overs (Ryan Burl 55, Antum Naqvi 38, Eddie Byrom 20; Donald Tiripano 5/17, Victor Nyauchi 2/43, Wellington Masakadza 1/28)

 

Mega Market Mountaineers won by 20 runs

A remarkable spell of bowling by Donald Tiripano for Mega Market Mountaineers stopped Rhinos in their tracks and turned their match at Harare Sports Club around on Wednesday morning when the latter appeared to be coasting to their third successive victory in this Domestic Twenty20 Competition.

Mountaineers, put in to bat, made an indifferent start when they lost their first three wickets for 35 runs, with Carl Mumba taking two wickets in the fifth over.

There followed, however, a magnificent fourth-wicket partnership between the 19-year-old Brian Bennett, again showing great ability and temperament, and the more experienced Tony Munyonga, who attacked the bowling in brilliant style to add 146 for the fourth wicket.

The stand was only broken in the final over when Munyonga was caught off Mike Chinouya for a brilliant 79, scored off only 44 balls with five sixes and seven fours.

Bennett was left not out with 62, taking 48 balls and hitting two sixes and five fours.

The innings closed at 187 for four, with Mumba, the most successful bowler, taking two for 37 in three overs.

However, Rhinos set a scorching pace with the bat, despite losing their first three wickets for 53 runs in 5.1 overs.

They were in danger of falling behind the clock, though, at 91 for four in the 11th over, but Ryan Burl now came in to join Antum Naqvi and smashed 55 off only 22 balls (four sixes, five fours).

When Burl was caught off Victor Nyauchi at 163 for five, only 26 more runs were needed off 4.3 overs.

This was the turning point, as Tiripano in the next over took three wickets in four balls, including that of Naqvi, and Rhinos crashed to 166 for eight.

Neville Madziva was run out and then in his next over Tiripano removed Brandon Mavuta for one to end the match, as Rhinos were all out for 167 in a sensational finish.

Tiripano finished with five wickets for 17 runs in 3.3 overs, while Nyauchi had an expensive two for 43 off four, but his dismissal of Burl was crucial.

******************************************************

Southern Rocks – 206-4 in 20 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 67, Gary Ballance 46*, Nick Gubbins 40; Mgcini Dube 1/16, Ainsley Ndlovu 1/31, Hamidullah Qadri 1/34)

Tuskers – 185-6 in 20 overs (Clive Madande 56, Luke Jongwe 35*, Tanu Makoni 26; Travor Mutsamba 2/24, Roy Kaia 2/33, Nick Gubbins 1/22)

 

Southern Rocks won by 21 runs

 

Southern Rocks’ trump card, Cephas Zhuwao, came good again in the match against Tuskers at Old Hararians Sports Club on Wednesday morning, as his 67 off 37 balls set their opponents a target they could not match.

After Rocks were put in to bat, cousins Innocent and Roy Kaia (12 and four respectively) were both out by the time the score was 60 for two in the seventh over, but in the English professional Nick Gubbins Zhuwao found a partner who could match him almost stroke for stroke.

The two hammered 67 runs off the next six overs before Zhuwao was bowled by Luke Jongwe for his 67, with three sixes and seven fours, and in the following over Gubbins was bowled by Hamidullah Qadri for 40 off 27 balls.

The score was now 137 for four in the 14th over, and Rocks were well on course for 200.

This they achieved thanks to Gary Ballance, who scored an unbeaten 46 off 25 balls, and Tafadzwa Tsiga, 23 not out off 14.

The final total of 206 for four was a daunting one, all the Tuskers bowlers were severely punished, and the task was too great for their batters.

Despite a fine 56 off 36 balls from Clive Madande, Tuskers fell gradually behind the run rate, and when Shumba was out for 24 off 16 at 146 for five, 61 were needed off the last 23 balls.

Jongwe was at the crease and he finished with an unbeaten 35 off 21, but when the last ball had been bowled Tuskers were still 21 runs adrift.

 ******************************************************

Lions – 137-7 in 20 overs (Marshal Takodza 47*, Blessed Muzite 24, Christopher Masike 18; Alex Falao 2/31, Tanaka Chivanga 1/17, Richard Ngarava 1/20)

Eagles – 140-2 in 12.5 overs (Nick Welch 54*, Wessly Madhevere 50*, Tadiwanashe Marumani 19; Marshal Takodza 1/19, Wallace Mubayiwa 1/25)

 

Eagles won by eight wickets

 

Aggressive fifties by Wessly Madhevere and Nick Welch took Eagles to an easy eight-wicket victory over Lions at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Lions broke with custom by batting when they won the toss, but they were not rewarded for their boldness.

Despite 24 from Blessing Muzite, they had four wickets down for 48 in the seventh over, and were greatly indebted to their captain, Marshal Takodza, for a rescue innings of 47 not out off 43 balls to give them any sort of score to bowl at.

The best partnership was one of 46 between Takodza and Campbell Macmillan (14) for the fifth wicket, and the total was a modest 137 for seven wickets.

Alex Falao took two wickets, but for once Tapiwa Mufudza did not enjoy much success, his three overs going for 28 runs and one wicket.

Takodza had a nightmare start as he opened the bowling in the Eagles innings, beginning with two wides that put seven runs altogether on the board before a legitimate delivery had been bowled.

Eagles were perhaps too eager to attack when it was unnecessary, because by the end of the third over they had lost Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for one and Tadiwanashe Marumani for 19 off 11 balls.

Welch came in to join Madhevere at 30 for two in the third over, and Welch immediately went on the attack.

Madhevere took a little longer to play himself in, but then matched Welch stroke for stroke and, whether by arrangement between the two of them or otherwise, both were able to reach unbeaten fifties before victory was achieved.

Madhevere finished with 50 not out off 31 balls (two sixes, five fours), while Welch had 54 off 32 (two sixes, seven fours), the final score being 140 for two wickets.

This result sees extremely close competition at the top of the table, with Eagles, Rhinos, Rocks and Mountaineers all having eight points from two victories and one defeat.

 

2022/23 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

TEAM

M

W

L

T

NR

PTS

NRR

Eagles

3

2

1

0

0

8

1.157

Rhinos

3

2

1

0

0

8

1.024

Southern Rocks

3

2

1

0

0

8

0.905

Mountaineers

3

2

1

0

0

8

0.188

Tuskers

3

1

2

0

0

4

-0.639

Lions

3

0

3

0

0

0

-3.132

Chibhabha, Moor, Zhuwao hog the limelight with blazing fifties

Eagles – 171-6 in 20 overs (Chamu Chibhabha 81*, Nick Welch 25, Tadiwanashe Marumani 15; Donald Tiripano 2/20, Victor Nyauchi 1/20, Tinashe Muchawaya 1/27)

Mega Market Mountaineers – 153 all out in 16.5 overs (PJ Moor 89, Wellington Masakadza 22, Brian Bennett 16; Matt Parkinson 4/39, Tanaka Chivanga 3/30, Tawanda Dzikiti 1/11)

 

Eagles won by 18 runs

A brilliant innings of 81 not out by Chamu Chibhabha was the main factor in Eagles’ 18-run victory over Mega Market Mountaineers in the Domestic Twenty20 Competition at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday morning.

Put in to bat, Eagles did not begin too well, losing their openers to the bowling of Donald Tiripano for 31 runs, but their innings burst into life as Chibhabha and Nick Welch (25) shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 56 in seven overs.

After Welch was out it was all Chibhabha, as with little support from the later batters he completely dominated the bowling, and was not out at the end of the innings, having scored his 81 off 51 balls with three sixes and nine fours.

The total was 171 for six wickets, and Tiripano with two for 20 off three overs was the best of the bowlers.

The Mountaineers innings was even more of a one-man show, as PJ Moor, going in first, played an even more dazzling innings than Chibhabha, scoring 89 off 47 balls, with seven sixes and six fours.

Kevin Kasuza was bowled by Tawanda Dzikiti with the first ball of the innings, but Brian Bennett gave Moor support for a while as he scored 16 in a second-wicket partnership of 66.

The vital factor in the result of the match was the middle-order collapse that followed, mainly to the leg-breaks of Matt Parkinson – the next five batters scored just five runs among them as the innings crumbled to 81 for seven.

As long as Moor was still there, Mountaineers had hope, and finally Wellington Masakadza provided him with the partner he needed.

However, Moor’s brilliant innings ended at 138 for eight wickets in the 16th over, caught at the wicket off Parkinson.

Tanaka Chivanga then mopped up the last two wickets, and Mountaineers were dismissed for 153 in the 17th over.

Wellington Masakadza did his best with 22 not out off 17 balls, but otherwise the bowlers won, with Parkinson taking four for 39 and Chivanga three for 30.

******************************************************

Rhinos – 200-6 in 20 overs (Carl Mumba 38, Tashinga Musekiwa 38, Nyasha Mayavo 35; Chris Mpofu 3/38, Ernest Masuku 2/30, Ainsley Ndlovu 1/11)

Tuskers – 164-5 in 20 overs (Milton Shumba 34, Clive Madande 33, Luke Jongwe 32; Carl Mumba 1/15, Mike Chinouya 1/20, Neville Madziva 1/29)

 

Rhinos won by 36 runs

Some consistent and explosive batting from Rhinos at Old Hararians Sports Club on Tuesday morning helped Rhinos to compile a daunting total of 200 for six wickets and beat Tuskers by 36 runs.

Eddie Byrom gave Rhinos a sound start after they were put in to bat with 29 off 34 balls, but the middle order tore into the bowling in fine style.

Nobody reached 40, but Nyasha Mayavo made 35 off 28 balls, which was exceeded by Tashinga Musekiwa (38 off 18) and Carl Mumba (38 off 17, with three sixes and three fours).

In spite of the onslaught, Chris Mpofu took three wickets for 38 and Ernest Masuku two for 30.

The only bowler to escape the hammer was Ainsley Ndlovu, who as captain gave himself only three overs, but remarkably only conceded 11 runs for the wicket of Mayavo.

Tuskers made a very good effort to chase down their huge target, and although they too batted with great consistency, they fell steadily behind the required run rate.

Four batters passed 30, starting with Nkosana Mpofu (30 off 22 balls), but again nobody cracked 40.

Clive Madande made 33 off 27 balls, Milton Shumba 34 off 24 and Luke Jongwe 32 off 19.

Five bowlers took a wicket each, another consistent effort, and this was enough to prevent, in the end, Tuskers from getting close.

The score in the end was 164 for five wickets, and Rhinos won comfortably by 36 runs, going to the top of the table as the only team to win both their matches.

******************************************************

Lions – 118-9 in 20 overs (Blessed Muzite 46, Bright Phiri 29, Awad Naqvi 12; Keith Jaure 3/24, Sydney Murombo 2/8, Nick Gubbins 1/22)

Southern Rocks – 119-1 in 11.4 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 53, Innocent Kaia 34*, Roy Kaia 29*; Christopher Masike 1/12)

 

Southern Rocks won by nine wickets

A blistering innings of 53 off only 18 balls by Cephas Zhuwao showed the Lions how to roar as they went down to a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Southern Rocks on Tuesday afternoon at Harare Sports Club.

Lions briefly looked good in the first over of the match, when after being put in to bat Awad Naqvi hit three fours off Travor Mutsamba, only to be bowled by Sydney Murombo in the second over without addition.

There was only one good partnership in their innings, when Blessed Muzite and Bright Phiri put on 56 for the third wicket, but when it was broken the score was 85 after 15 overs, rather on the slow side.

Phiri made 29 and Muzite went on to score 46, but the rest of the batting failed completely and when the ninth wicket fell to the last ball of the 20th over the score was only 118 for nine.

Keith Jaure finished off the innings with three wickets for 24 runs, while Murombo and Dylan Hondo took two wickets each, Murombo for just eight runs in three overs.

Zhuwao put the result beyond doubt in no time at all, hitting the young Wallace Mubayiwa’s first two balls of the innings for six, and after the first over the score was 27 for no wicket – Zhuwao 25 and two no-balls.

Another three balls faced in Trevor Gwandu’s next over saw him hit another 11 runs, and he reached his fifty in the fourth over off 17 balls, with two successive sixes off Christopher Masike.

At this point Zhuwao was caught off the next delivery and the bowlers no doubt heaved great sighs of relief, although by now, at 61 for one off 3.4 overs, the match was as good as over.

Roy Kaia now joined his cousin Innocent Kaia, and the two of them calmly completed the victory in the 12th over.

Both faced 27 balls, and Innocent finished with 34 runs, Roy with 29.

In the end it was a one-sided match, and a steep learning curve for the young Lions players, who are now the only team in the competition without a victory.

 

2022/23 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

TEAM

M

W

L

T

NR

PTS

NRR

Rhinos

2

2

0

0

0

8

2.075

Southern Rocks

2

1

1

0

0

4

0.722

Eagles

2

1

1

0

0

4

-0.089

Mountaineers

2

1

1

0

0

4

-0.284

Tuskers

2

1

1

0

0

4

-0.429

Lions

2

0

2

0

0

0

-2.653