Williams effort in vain as Rocks edge Tuskers again in Pro50 clash

Southern Rocks – 151 all out in 38.2 overs (Ben Curran 47, Richmond Mutumbami 28, Innocent Kaia 23; Sean Williams 3/21, John Nyumbu 3/24, Nkosana Mpofu 2/2)

Tuskers – 142 all out in 30.2 overs (Sean Williams 86, Brian Chari 9, Nkosana Mpofu 9; Sikandar Raza 3/49, Travor Mutsamba 2/7, Tendai Chisoro 2/14)

Southern Rocks won by nine runs

A remarkable lone hand of 86 out of a total of 142 by Sean Williams just failed to bring Tuskers a victory in their return Pro50 Championship match against Southern Rocks, who thus won in an exciting finish by nine runs at Masvingo Sports Club on Friday.

Rocks, put in to bat, suffered the shock of losing their most dangerous batsman, Cephas Zhuwao, to the first ball of the match when he edged a delivery from Charlton Tshuma to the keeper, Clive Madande.

However, Innocent Kaia and Ben Curran did their best to take over Zhuwao’s role as they attacked the bowling in fine style, bringing up the team fifty in the seventh over.

Kaia was then bowled by Ernest Masuku for 23 off 24 balls, but Richmond Mutumbami took his place and with Curran took the score to 105 in the 15th over.

Then came a disastrous batting collapse that turned the innings on its head, brought about by the spinners John Nyumbu and Williams.

Nyumbu had Mutumbami caught by Luke Jongwe for 28, scored off 24 balls, while Williams bowled Sikandar Raza second ball without scoring.

Tadiwanashe Marumani was lbw to Nyumbu for three, and then Curran’s fine innings of 47 off 62 balls came to an end as he was out in just the same way.

Williams then struck again, having William Mashinge caught at the wicket and Tendai Chisoro lbw, both for just two runs each.

Six wickets had fallen in 11 economical overs for 20 runs and Rocks were reeling at 125 for eight wickets.

Roy Kaia fought back, with help from Blessing Muzarabani, and by careful batting they saw off the two spinners and took the score to 148 before Nkosana Mpofu had Muzarabani caught at the wicket.

Mpofu then removed Kaia lbw for 22, scored carefully off 59 balls, to end the Rocks innings for a total of 151 in the 39th over.

Williams and Nyumbu both bowled out their 10 overs, taking vital wickets each and conceding only 21 and 24 runs respectively.

Mpofu, who replaced them, bowling off-spin, finished with figures of two wickets for two runs.

Tuskers now had an excellent chance of avenging their big defeat on Wednesday, but they did not begin well.

Mpofu and Brian Chari made 20 runs for the first wicket before the left-arm spinner Chisoro, opening the bowling with Muzarabani, removed them both to catches in quick succession for nine runs each – 22 for two in the sixth over.

Williams came in at number four and scored freely and confidently from the start.

Given one good partner, he would certainly have taken Tuskers through to victory, but he never found one who lasted more than 23 balls — which was Taffy Mupariwa at number three, who scored eight.

His best partnership was one of 36 for the fourth wicket with Milton Shumba, who was caught off Raza for seven.

Clive Madande briefly showed some spirit to score eight, but otherwise the rest of the innings was a steady procession of low scores and quick departures, and when Nyumbu managed to hit his wicket against the bowling of Travor Mutsamba, nine wickets were down for 137.

Fifteen to win by the last wicket was quite possible, as Tshuma has played some stubborn defensive innings, but this time it was Williams who unexpectedly got out, having taken his team to the verge of victory.

He was caught by Marumani off Mutsamba’s bowling, and Rocks were again the team to celebrate.

Williams scored over 60 percent of his side’s total, facing 74 balls for his 86 and hitting two sixes and 11 fours. Raza bowled his 10 overs for an expensive 49 runs, but he took three wickets, while there were two each for Muzarabani, Chisoro and Mutsamba.

2021/22 PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE