Men’s Domestic T20: Kaia helps Rocks pick up first victory

Southern Rocks – 165-3 in 19 overs (Roy Kaia 61*, Tafadzwa Tsiga 46*, Tadiwanashe Marumani 19; John Nyumbu 1/18, Steve Chimhamhiwa 1/20)

Tuskers – 137 all out in 18 overs (Bright Phiri 40, Luke Jongwe 24, Steve Chimhamhiwa 16; Sydney Murombo 4/16, Cuthbert Musoko 3/29, Nkosilathi Nungu 2/30)

Southern Rocks won by 28 runs

Roy Kaia and Tafadzwa Tsiga of Southern Rocks produced one of the best partnerships of the Domestic T20 Competition when they put on 108 runs for the fourth wicket in 10.3 overs without being separated against Tuskers at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

The resultant total of 165 for three wickets was too great for Tuskers, who went down to defeat by 28 runs.

This match was also reduced to 19 overs per side due to rain.

Rocks, put in to bat, had mixed fortunes at the start of their innings.

Innocent Kaia hit the first two balls of the match, from Steve Chimhamhiwa, for four and six, before he took a single and saw his partner Cephas Zhuwao caught off the first delivery he faced.

Innocent Kaia did a good if brief job, out for 19 off only 10 balls, but when Tadiwanashe Marumani was caught off John Nyumbu for 29 in the ninth over the score was 57 for three.

There followed one of the best partnerships of the tournament, as Roy Kaia joined Tsiga and the two of them batted brilliantly to share an unbroken partnership of 108 in 11.3 overs.

Tsiga did well enough to score 46 off 42 balls, with a six and three fours, but Roy Kaia really excelled himself with a brilliant 61 – it came off only 34 balls, as he hit three sixes and three fours in great style.

After their 19 overs, Rocks had raised the impressive total of 165 for three wickets.

The pace bowlers suffered the most, with Chimhamhiwa, Luke Jongwe and Allan Chigoma all going for more than 10 runs an over, while the spinners were much more economical.

Milton Shumba’s three overs cost only 13 runs, while Nyumbu took one for 18 in his three.

Bright Phiri batted superbly when Tuskers replied, hitting up 40 off only 26 balls, including a six and six fours, before he was caught by Roy Kaia off Sydney Murombo.

He could not find a reliable partner, however, with Shumba out in the same way for 12, and Clive Madande was caught at the wicket first ball off Cuthbert Musoko.

Allan Chigoma then went for five, and Tuskers were 66 for five in the 10th over, with hope virtually gone.

The later batters gave it their best shot, with Jongwe hitting 24 off 18 balls and Chimhamhiwa 16 off 14.

But the task was too great for them, and after 18 overs they were all out for 137.

Murombo in three overs enjoyed the fine figures of four wickets for 16 runs, while Musoko had three for 29.

2021/22 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE

Subscribe to Blog via Email