Tuskers, Mountaineers, Rhinos off to winning starts in T20 tourney

Eagles – 76-8 in 13 overs (Kudzai Maunze 22, Matt Parkinson 18, Tadiwanashe Marumani 11; Ernest Masuku 3/12, Chris Mpofu 1/13, Ainsley Ndlovu 1/13)

Tuskers – 78-2 in 10.3 overs (Tanu Makoni 42*, Clive Madande 18, Milton Shumba 12*; Tapiwa Mufudza 2/14)

Tuskers won by eight wickets

Excellent bowling from Ernest Masuku, followed by a fine innings of 42 not out from Tanu Makoni, brought Tuskers an easy eight-wicket victory over Eagles in the opening match of the 2022/23 Domestic Twenty20 Competition at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

Overnight rain delayed the start and the match had to be reduced to 13 overs a side.

The Eagles top-order batting collapsed after they were put in to bat, the first five wickets falling for 18 runs.

Tadiwanashe Marumani made 11 of them, but Chamu Chibhabha and Nick Welch failed to score.

In his first over, Masuku dismissed Wessly Madhevere for five and Chibhabha.

Kudzai Maunze (22) and English professional Matt Parkinson (18) brought about something of a recovery, but a final score of only 76 for eight wickets was a serious disadvantage.

Tuskers lost Nkosana Mpofu for five, but Makoni played a fine innings, with help from Clive Madande (18) and Milton Shumba (12 not out) to take Tuskers home in relative comfort with 15 balls in hand.

Both wickets fell to Tapiwa Mufudza, who did well to take two for 14 in his three overs.

Tanunurwa Makoni speaks to 3mobTV after storming T20 debut

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Lions – 136-5 in 15 overs (Awad Naqvi 35, Hamid Ali 34, Blessed Muzite 24; Shingi Masakadza 2/19, Wellington Masakadza 1/21, Donald Tiripano 1/26)

Mega Market Mountaineers – 137-4 in 14.1 overs (PJ Moor 59*, Brian Bennett 41, Kevin Kasuza 15; Kudakwashe Macheka 2/19, Nkosilathi Nungu 1/27, Marshal Takodza 1/31)

Mega Market Mountaineers won by six wickets

At Old Hararians, there was a good match as PJ Moor hit a rollicking 59 not out that, with fine support from Brian Bennett, took Mega Market Mountaineers to a six-wicket victory over the young Lions team.

This match had to be reduced to 15 overs per side after a delayed start.

Lions, put in to bat, were given a fine start by Awad Naqvi (35) and Hamid Ali (34), who put on 67 for the first wicket in 6.3 overs.

Both were dismissed by Shingi Masakadza, but Blessed Muzite (24) and Christopher Masike (14) helped to boost the score to 136 for five, an excellent total in 15 overs.

Mountaineers lost Kevin Kasuza for 15, but then came the match-winning partnership for the second wicket between Moor and the former Under-19 player Bennett.

They added 93 together in only 8.2 overs before Bennett was out after a brilliant display of hitting: 41 runs off 22 balls, with three sixes and three fours.

Tony Munyonga hit two sixes before he was out, while Moor stayed to finish with 59 not out, having faced 41 balls and hit two sixes and six fours.

Kuda Macheka did best of the bowlers, with two wickets for 19 in his three overs.

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Southern Rocks – 121-9 in 20 overs (Gary Ballance 37, Roy Kaia 36, Innocent Kaia 15; Antum Naqvi 4/20, Mike Chinouya 4/24, Neville Madziva 1/11)

Rhinos – 122-4 in 15 overs (Eddie Byrom 34, Ryan Burl 33*, Antum Naqvi 26*; Nick Gubbins 3/28, Sydney Murombo 1/12)

Rhinos won by six wickets

A good all-round performance by Antum Naqvi played a major part in Rhinos’ comfortable six-wicket victory over Southern Rocks in the afternoon match at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

Naqvi took four wickets and then scored 26 not out as his share of the win.

With the weather remaining dry, 20 overs per side were possible.

Rocks, put in to bat, saw Cephas Zhuwao hit a six and then get bowled out by Naqvi in their first over, which finished with Ben Curran bowled out without scoring.

Naqvi took a third wicket when he had Nick Gubbins caught for two, and Rocks were in real trouble when Innocent Kaia went for 15 to make the score 31 for four in the sixth over.

Then Roy Kaia joined Gary Ballance and the pair effected a fine recovery, adding 62 runs in nine overs, scoring 36 and 37 respectively.

Mike Chinouya however brought about another collapse, so Rocks finished on 121 for nine wickets.

It is not often a bowler in this format of cricket is able to take four wickets in his four overs, but both Naqvi, for 20 runs, and Chinouya, for 24, achieved this.

When Rhinos batted, Tarisai Musakanda hit up a quick 14, but Eddie Byrom provided stability when Nyasha Mayavo and Johnathan Campbell both went to successive deliveries from Nick Gubbins at 43.

When Byrom himself was out for 34 in the 11th over, with the score at 72, the match was again in the balance, but Naqvi was still there, batting well and ready to take over the stabilising role.

The final thrust was provided by Ryan Burl, who hit up 33 not out off 17 balls, with two sixes and two fours, to sweep Rhinos to victory with five overs to spare.

Naqvi was also unbeaten with 26, scored off 25 balls.

The English professional Gubbins was the pick of the bowlers with three for 28 off his four overs.

Below is Antum Naqvi after his unbeaten 26