MASVINGO — Southern Rocks won their first cricket game in three matches as they beat Matabeleland Tuskers by four wickets off the last ball in Masvingo yesterday.
Rocks needed nine off the final over bowled by Chris Mpofu. Only three runs came off the first four deliveries, but Tendai Chisoro hit the last two for fours to seal the win.
Tuskers had earlier been kept to 119 for 8 after Rocks chose to field. Craig Ervine made a steady 49 off 55 at No 3 while opener Terry Duffin contributed 28 off 24, but none of the other Tuskers batsmen managed double figures.
Brian Vitori claimed 3 for 22 while Trevor Garwe and Cuthbert Musoko picked up two wickets each.
Rocks kept losing wickets regularly in the chase with Peter Burgoyne top-scoring with 36 off 32. It came down to 22 needed off the last two overs. Chisoro hit Glen Querl for a six and a four in the penultimate over before ultimately prevailing off the last ball of the game.
Mashonaland Eagles remained top of the table with a six-wicket win over MidWest Rhinos in Kwekwe.
Vusi Sibanda and Brendan Taylor put on 133 upfront for Rhinos, but Stuart Matsikenyeri responded with a swift fifty, and Forster Mutizwa’s blows towards the end sealed Eagle’s second win in as many games.
The stand between Sibanda (66 off 50) and Taylor (59 off 44) lasted nearly 15 overs before being ended by Kyle Jarvis, who removed Sibanda. Ray Price dismissed Taylor two balls later and ended with economical figures of 1 for 24 in four overs. That did not stop Rhinos from amassing 183 for 3.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Eagles were in trouble early when they lost two wickets for 23, but Chamu Chibhabha (39 off 28) revived the chase along with Matsikenyeri (67 off 44). Graeme Cremer dismissed the duo, but by then, Matsikenyeri had struck seven boundaries and left Eagles with 31 to get off 19 balls.
Mutizwa (44 not out off 24) hammered three sixes, including two off Ed Rainsford in the 18th over, to ensure Eagles were home by the start of the 20th. Elton Chigumbura had a role to play at the finish as well, as he hit three boundaries in an unbeaten 19 off only seven deliveries. —Cricinfo
