Men’s Domestic T20 Day 4: Maunze stars with bat as Eagles record first T20 victory

Alliance Health Eagles – 159-4 in 18 overs (Kudzai Maunze 78, Chamu Chibhabha 45, Wessly Madhevere 19; Tashinga Musekiwa 1/14, Jabulisa Tshuma 1/20, Trevor Gwandu 1/34)

Rhinos – 24-5 in 6.1 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 12, Prince Masvaure 8*, Tashinga Musekiwa 2; Wessly Madhevere 3/6, Richard Ngarava 1/4, Tapiwa Mufudza 1/14)

Alliance Health Eagles won by 48 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method)

A magnificent second-wicket partnership between Kudzai Maunze and Chamu Chibhabha swept Alliance Health Eagles to a Duckworth-Lewis victory over Rhinos in their Domestic T20 Competition match at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

The eventual declared margin of 38 runs completely obscures the dominance that Eagles had throughout the match, thanks largely to this partnership.

Rain before the start reduced this match to 18 overs per side.

Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Eagles having been put in to bat, hit a four and was then caught at the wicket off Charlton Tshuma’s third delivery.

There followed that powerful partnership of 117 in 12 overs between Maunze and the captain, Chibhabha.

Chibhabha was the first to go with 45 off 37 balls, with a six and six fours, but Maunze was even more dynamic.

He soon followed Chibhabha, having scored 78 runs off only 44 balls, with five sixes and six fours.

Although Wessly Madhevere scored 19, the batting at the death was not very effective, but thanks to that major partnership the total was a very good one of 159 for four wickets.

None of the bowlers enjoyed much success, and all went for more than a run a ball.

The first three overs of the Rhinos innings virtually removed all their hopes of a successful run chase.

Takudzwanashe Kaitano scored 12 runs off the first 11 balls, but was then caught off Tapiwa Mufudza.

In the next over Madhevere had Nyasha Mayavo and Tarisai Musakanda both lbw in quick succession, so that three top wickets went down within five balls bowled, and the score was 14 for three.

This became 20 for four when Madhevere in his next over took Tashinga Musekiwa (two) for his third victim, and then Ngarava bowled Johnathan Campbell for one – 24 for five after six overs.

Prince Masvaure was still there with eight, having had less of the bowling, and he faced one more ball from Madhevere before the umpires called a halt due to bad light.

The match was called off at five o’clock with no more play possible, and under any regulations that could be invented Eagles would have been declared winners.

This was their first Domestic T20 Competition victory in three matches.

2021/22 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

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