Chris Gayle was dismissed for a duck and conceded eight runs off his one over, but Matabeleland Tuskers still beat Southern Rocks comfortably at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Tuskers’ seamers Keegan Meth, Glen Querl and Tom Smith all took two wickets each in tight spells to keep Rocks to 114 for 8 in their 20 overs.
Meth made the first incisions, striking twice in the fifth over to reduce Rocks to 24 for 2. Smith then chipped in with wickets in the middle overs and the lack of partnerships made it difficult for Rocks to lift their scoring-rate.
At 89 for 7 in the 18th over it looked like they would struggle to get past 100, but some quick runs from Hilary Matanga and Tafadzwa Kamungozi got them to 114. Meth gave away just 13 runs in his four overs while Smith conceded 12.
Tuskers needed just 16,1 overs to chase the target. Gayle was dismissed in the first over, but that was the only wicket to fall as Smith and Paul Horton guided Tuskers home.
Smith scored 63 off 56 balls to cap off an impressive all-round performance while Horton got 39 off 40.
Mountaineers beat Mashonaland Eagles by 22 runs via the Duckworth/Lewis method, at the Harare Sports Club.
Mountaineers reached 139 in their 20 overs and Eagles were set a revised target of 105 runs to win in 15,1 overs.
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They lost wickets regularly in their chase and fell well short. Fast bowler Dirk Nannes struck with his first two balls to peg Eagles back.
They never quite recovered, as wickets fell at regular intervals to ensure the required run-rate kept rising.
Mountaineers’ innings was built around Hamilton Masakadza, who scored 36 off 27 balls with three fours and a six. That was after Tino Mawoyo had got them off to a flier with his 16 off 10, which included two sixes.
Medium-pacer Nathan Waller struck three times in the middle overs to keep Eagles in check but their total of 139 proved enough.
Fixtures on Tuesday MidWest Rhinos vs Matabeleland Tuskers 2pm
