shloboe boe
Brandon Moyo, brandonmalvin9@gmail.com
ONCE again, rain proved to be a spoilsport in a Tuskers match, as the Bulawayo side’s Pro50 Championship match against Rhinos was called off at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) yesterday.
This is the second consecutive time that Tuskers’ Pro50 Championship match has yielded no result.
Last week, against Southern Rocks at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare, their match was abandoned.
Tuskers’ preparations for yesterday’s game were also interrupted by rain which continued to affect the match.
The game started two hours later than scheduled due to a wet outfield at BAC caused by overnight rain in Bulawayo. It was Tuskers who won the toss and elected to field first in a match that was reduced to 41 overs.
Tuskers managed to restrict Rhinos to 287/7 with Antum Naqvi scoring his first century of the season for the visitors. There was another rain delay in the afternoon and Tuskers were asked to chase a revised target of 200 runs in 24 overs. At the time the match was called off, the home side were on 13/1 in 4.4 overs.
Yesterday’s outcome meant that the Bulawayo side remains at the bottom of the standings.
Tuskers managed to have a decent start with the ball as they got both Rhinos’ openers inside 13 overs.
Luke Jongwe was the first to strike, getting the Rhinos skipper Takudzwanashe Kaitano caught by Brian Chari for 27 runs off 33 deliveries.
Ainsley Ndlovu had Ben Curran also caught for 22 runs from 35 balls, leaving Rhinos on 56/2 in 12.1 over.
Naqvi and Kevin Kasuza started Rhinos’ rebuild and the duo had a century-stand for the third wicket before the latter was trapped in front by Brandon James on 43 runs off 56 deliveries.
Wicketkeeper/ batter, Nyasha Mayavo was the next to fall trapped in front by Brian Mudzinganyama for five runs off nine balls. Following Mayavo’s departure, Rhinos were now on 168/4 in 31.1 overs.
There was yet another century partnership between Naqvi and Tashinga Musekiwa before the former was caught by Ali Hamid off a Jongwe delivery for 131 runs after facing just 85 balls.
For the last three wickets (including that of Naqvi), Rhinos did not score any runs. After Naqvi fell, Ernest Masuku took two in two, getting Musekiwa caught on 41 runs and bowling Brad Evans for a golden duck with the second last ball of the final over.
Masuku finished with figures of 2/52 in nine overs while Jongwe registered figures of 2/59 in eight overs. James, Ndlovu and Mudzinganyama took one scalp apiece for the hosts.
In their chase, Tuskers lost only the wicket of seasoned campaigner Nkosana Mpofu who was run out for seven runs off nine balls in the fourth over before the game was abandoned in the following overs.
Tanunurwa Makoni and the skipper Tafara Mupariwa were out in the middle.
Next up for Tuskers is a Logan Cup encounter against the same opponents at BAC.
The four-day game starts on Saturday and is free of charge to all spectators.
mbulelo smpofu
