Southern Rocks – 181-8 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 55, Innocent Kaia 41, Roy Kaia 22; Tendai Chatara 3/49, Brian Bennett 2/20, Fortune Mhlanga 2/20)
Mountaineers – 118 all out in 19.1 overs (Brian Bennett 46, Alistair Frost 36, Matthew Welch 16; Newman Nyamhuri 3/16, Shelton Mazvitorera 3/35, Dylan Hondo 2/23)
Southern Rocks won by 63 runs
Sikandar Raza once again showcased his prowess with a dazzling 55 off 30 balls, steering Southern Rocks to a commanding 63-run victory over Mountaineers in their Domestic T20 match at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday morning.
Cephas Zhuwao provided early momentum with a brisk 16 off 12 balls, but it was Innocent Kaia who stood out among the top-order batters, smashing 41 off just 23 deliveries.
The defining partnership for the Rocks – and the decisive blow for Mountaineers – came from the 66-run stand for the fourth wicket between Raza and Johnathan Campbell.
While Raza dominated, Campbell played a steady supporting role with a valuable 21.
Rocks finished on 181 for eight, setting Mountaineers a daunting target.
Tendai Chatara was Mountaineers’ most successful bowler, picking up three wickets, although he conceded 49 runs in his four overs.
Mountaineers got off to a promising start with an opening stand of 45 between Brian Bennett and Matthew Welch.
However, Welch struggled to score freely, managing only 16 off 23 balls.
Bennett, in contrast, batted fluently for his 46 off 36 deliveries, but a middle-order collapse saw the team slump to 78 for six after 14 overs.
With 104 runs needed off the last six overs, the chase was all but impossible.
Alistair Frost provided brief resistance, striking 36 off 21 balls, but the lower order crumbled, losing the last four wickets for just one run in eight balls.
Newman Nyamhuri starred with the ball, claiming three wickets for a miserly 16 runs, while Shelton Mazvitorera also bagged three scalps to seal a dominant victory for the Rocks.
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Rhinos – 197-5 in 20 overs (Ryan Burl 77, Antum Naqvi 61, Nyasha Mayavo 22; Kundai Matigimu 2/53, Wessly Madhevere 1/24, Richard Ngarava 1/30)
Eagles – 186 all out in 19.4 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 95, Kundai Matigimu 34, Dion Myers 17; Brad Evans 4/38, Antum Naqvi 2/37, Victor Chirwa 1/19)
Rhinos won by 11 runs
The showdown between Rhinos and Eagles at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday afternoon was worthy of a final, bringing together the Domestic T20 tournament’s two unbeaten sides in a thrilling contest that at one stage seemed destined to be a one-sided affair.
Although Rhinos eventually clinched it by 11 runs, a brilliant knock of 95 off 57 balls by Tadiwanashe Marumani nearly turned the tide, setting up a dramatic finish.
Eagles entered the final over at 180 for nine, needing 18 runs for victory, with Marumani on strike, already on 89.
Hendrichs Macheke was tasked with bowling the decisive over.
Marumani struck a four and a two, but on the fourth delivery, he drove the ball powerfully – only to find Brad Evans, who held on to the catch, sealing victory for Rhinos.
Rhinos had earlier posted an imposing 197 for five, powered by outstanding half-centuries from Antum Naqvi and Ryan Burl.
Coming together at 30 for two in the fifth over, Naqvi and Burl built a crucial 102-run partnership for the third wicket in just 10 overs.
Burl finished as the top scorer, crafting a well-paced 77 off 50 balls, including four sixes and six fours.
However, Naqvi’s 61 off only 33 deliveries was even more explosive, featuring four sixes and three fours.
Kundai Matigimu took two wickets but conceded 53 runs in his four overs, while Wessly Madhevere and Richard Ngarava were more economical, taking a wicket each for 24 and 30 runs, respectively.
Chasing almost 10 runs per over for victory, Eagles might have suffered a heavy defeat if not for Marumani’s heroic effort.
Opening the batting, he watched wickets tumble at the other end, losing nine partners in the process.
Matigimu was the only teammate to last at least 10 deliveries.
Coming in when Eagles were struggling at 71 for six, he played a counter-attacking knock of 34 off 20 balls, sharing a 51-run stand for the seventh wicket in five overs.
Faraz Akram also chipped in with a quick 17 off nine balls, keeping Eagles’ hopes alive as long as Marumani remained at the crease.
The ninth wicket fell at 164, yet Marumani continued to fight, skilfully managing the strike and dragging the match to a thrilling climax.
He struck six fours and six sixes, fully deserving a century, but it was not to be.
Rhinos emerged victorious, maintaining their perfect record with a third consecutive win.
Evans was instrumental with the ball, finishing with four wickets for 38 runs.
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