MASHONALAND Eagles stretched their unbeaten run in the Domestic Twenty20 Competition to four matches after beating Mountaineers by four wickets at Mutare Sports Club yesterday. BY SPORTS REPORTER
Aggressive Eagles opener Sikander Raza scored 50 runs off 41 balls to steer Eagles to 145 for six in 19,1 overs in reply to Mountaineers’ 144 for eight to secure a victory for his side with five balls to spare.
Following abandonment of Wednesday’s 50-over match due to rain, Eagles skipper Stuart Matsikenyeri decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
His decision was vindicated by his bowlers who took advantage of the conditions to restrict the hosts to a modest score.
Promising Eagles’ pace bowler Tatenda Manatsa claimed three wickets to finish as pick-of-the-bowlers, while Kyle Jarvis and Tinotenda Mutombodzi also finished with two wickets each.
Hamilton Masakadza top-scored for the Mutare-based franchise with a blistering 72 off a mere 43 deliveries, but did not get the necessary support from his teammates.
Only two other Mountaineers batsmen Tino Mawoyo (20) and Greg Lamb (27) managed to reach double figures while the rest cheaply gave their wickets away.
Eagles’ run chase did not get off to the ideal start after losing Cephas Zhuwao in the second over off the bowling of Shingi Masakadza with just four runs on the board.
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Raza, however, kept Eagles in the match as he continued to score freely while he received the necessary support from Chamu Chibhabha (21) and Regis Chakabva (34).
Seamers Masakadza and Donald Tiripano claimed two wickets apiece, but could not stop the Eagles from recording their fourth win on the trot in the shortest version of the game.
