Men’s Domestic T20 Day 5: Mountaineers maintain momentum ahead of final

Tuskers – 116-9 in 20 overs (Milton Shumba 35, Thabo Mboyi 17, Bright Phiri 15; John Masara 2/9, Tendai Chatara 2/20, Shingi Masakadza 2/34)

Mountaineers – 118-2 in 16.3 overs (Kevin Kasuza 70*, Tony Munyonga 21*, PJ Moor 14; John Nyumbu 1/19, Ainsley Ndlovu 1/13)

Mountaineers won by eight wickets

A brilliant innings of 70 not out by Kevin Kasuza swept Mountaineers to a fine victory by eight wickets over Tuskers at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

Tuskers decided to bat first on winning the toss, but the move never really looked like coming off successfully.

Neither did the promotion of Clive Madande to open the batting, as he was bowled by Tendai Chatara for six in the second over.

Bright Phiri, the other opener, did his best for the team, hitting three fours as he scored 15 off 13 balls before being caught off Tinashe Muchawaya.

After that Milton Shumba was the only batter who shaped up well, as he ran to 35 off 29 balls, hitting a six and four fours.

But he could not find a reliable partner, and the other middle-order batters were all soon dismissed for single-figure scores, although Luke Jongwe (9) might have made something of his innings had he not been run out.

Eight wickets were down for 88 before there came the highest partnership of the innings – but this was worth only 22 for the ninth wicket, as Thabo Mboyi made 17 off 15 balls, along with Sheu Musekwa, who was nine not out when the innings closed for a disappointing 116 for nine wickets.

Four Mountaineers bowlers shared the wickets, with John Masara coming off best with two for nine in his three overs, while Chatara and Shingi Masakadza also took two wickets each.

The result was not long in any doubt, as Kasuza opened the Mountaineers innings with a blaze of strokes.

His partner, PJ Moor, scored 14 off 16 balls and when he was caught off John Nyumbu the score was 67 in the ninth over.

Spencer Magodo was out for seven, but by now the score was 88 for two in the 12th over.

Tony Munyonga decided to give Kasuza some rivalry, and he hit out to such purpose that off 17 balls he hit 21 not out and blasted a six off Shumba to win the match in the 17th over.

Kasuza finished unbeaten with 70, scored off only 54 balls, and it included a six and three fours.

Nyumbu was the only regular bowler to escape serious punishment, as his four overs cost 19 runs and he took the wicket of Moor.

Mountaineers have won all four of their round-robin matches in this competition and will now meet Eagles in the final scheduled for Saturday.

2021/22 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

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