MATEBELELAND Tuskers got their Pro 50 Championship off to a good start with a 43-run win over Eagles away in the capital this afternoon.
The visitors’ spinner Tanatswa Bechani claimed the last wickets of the match when he trapped plumb Eagles’ tailender Honest Ziwira for two in the 34th overs as the hosts were bundled all out for a measly 151 chasing 191.
Bechani finished with four wickets for 27 runs in 9.4 overs as Tuskers defended 194 runs they made inside 44.1 overs.
Former Zimbabwe U19 batsman Tanunurwa Makoni and agemate Alvin Chiradza stirred the Tuskers ship with half centuries, 64 and 58, respectively, after Eagles captain Chamu Chibhabha elected to field upon winning the toss.
Tuskers’ skipper Ainsley Ndlovu (14) and Allan Chingoma (10) weighed with double-digit scores during difficult batting innings that saw hosts’ spinner Tapiwa Mufudza claiming four wickets for 26 runs in 10 overs.
Hamid Ali took three wickets while Kudzai Maunze and Tawanda Dzikiti picked two and one wicket for the Eagles.
The home team’s chase got off to a blistering start with Tadiwanashe Marumani and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe scoring 59 from 7.3 overs before the former was caught by Brian Chari off Sheunopa Musekwa’s bowling.
Musekwa’s introduction seemed to be exactly what the doctor ordered as he went to claim the wickets of Maunze (4) out LBW and Kamunhukamwe (19) in a similar fashion in the same over with only a delivery separating their dismissals.
From 59-1 after 7.3, the Eagles were now 68-3.
Chibhabha got on the crease and lofted two huge sixes off Musekwa in the same over, reminding many that he was once the Chevron’s skipper. However, his brief, entertaining innings ended when he became Bechani’s first victim and was caught by his opposite number, Ndlovu, after 15.5 overs.
At this stage, the Eagles were on course to victory on 102-4, but in hindsight, Chibhabha’s dismissal turned out to be the match’s turning point as, after him, only Ali (19) and Faraz Akram (13) contributed meaningful runs on the board.
Musekwa finished the match with three wickets, while Ernest Masuku took two.
