Eagles complete turnaround to storm into men’s T20 final

Southern Rocks – 146-5 in 20 overs (Roy Kaia 38, Cephas Zhuwao 31, Richmond Mutumbami 27*; Wessly Madhevere 3/22, Brad Evans 1/30)

Alliance Health Eagles – 147-3 in 18.1 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 77, Wessly Madhevere 22*, Kudzai Maunze 19; Roy Kaia 2/13) 

Alliance Health Eagles won by seven wickets

Tinashe Kamunhukamwe’s dazzling innings of 77 off just 53 balls propelled Alliance Health Eagles to a seven-wicket victory over Southern Rocks at Old Hararians Sports Club on Tuesday.

The victory saw them storming into the Domestic T20 Competition final, completing a remarkable turnaround after they lost their first two matches of the tournament.

Rocks had decided to bat on winning the toss.

Their not-so-secret weapon, Cephas Zhuwao, launched the innings with typical power, smashing two sixes and two fours as he raced to 31 off 23 balls.

Then, with the score 43 in the fifth over, Brad Evans dismissed him lbw, to the great relief of his team.

His partner Innocent Kaia soon followed him for seven and, with Tadiwanashe Marumani going for 15 and Tafadzwa Tsiga for 10, the innings was in danger of losing its way at 71 for four in the 10th over.

Then came a vital partnership, as Richmond Mutumbami joined Roy Kaia and the pair, scoring at a run a ball, put on 61 in just over nine overs, with Kaia run out for 38 at the end of the 19th over.

Mutumbami finished with 27 not out as the innings closed on 146 for five wickets.

Wessly Madhevere again did an excellent job with the ball, taking three wickets for 22 in his four overs.

Eagles soon gave notice of their determination to win again as Kamunhukamwe and Kudzai Maunze got the innings going at a cracking rate.

By the time Roy Kaia bowled Maunze for 19 off only 10 balls in the fourth over, the score was already 35.

Chamu Chibhabha played a steady supporting role to score 15 off 26 balls as he put on 45 in seven overs with Kamunhukamwe.

After he was caught at the wicket, also off Roy Kaia, Madhevere took over while Kamunhukamwe went from strength to strength.

Victory was virtually assured when Kamunhukamwe was run out from a throw by Marumani for 77, with the score now 130 for three in the 17th over – he faced only 53 balls and hit two sixes and eight fours.

It took only another 10 balls for Eagles to complete their victory, with Madhevere not out with 22 and Evans with eight.

Roy Kaia was not only his side’s top batter in this match, but also their best bowler, as in his four overs he took two wickets and conceded only 13 runs.

Eagles will now face table-toppers Mountaineers in the Domestic T20 Competition final scheduled for Saturday at Harare Sports Club.

2021/22 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

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