EAGLES WIN PRO 50 CHAMPIONSHIP

Mashonaland Eagles are the CHAMPIONS after beating Matabeleland Tuskers by 5 runs in a rain affected Pro 50 Championship Final. The Duckworth Lewis method had to be employed to help  get a result in the match played at Queens Sports Club yesterday.

The Tuskers won the toss and sent the visitors in to bat and Stuart Matsikanyeri and Cephas Zhuwawo opened the account with a first wicket stand of 47 off seven overs. Zhuwawo was the first to head back for the pavilion after mistiming a Glen Querl delivery after contributing 33 runs off 28 balls. Chamu Chibhabha was the next man in but did not do much as the middle order crumbled. Nathan Waller, Regis Chakabva and Razza Butt made 68 runs between the  them. Man of the match Prosper Utseya produced a fine batting show with a well crafted 53 off 44 balls having cleared the boundary for four 4 times and once for 6. There was not much contribution in the lower order as Tino Mutombodzi, Taurayi Muzarabani and Innocent Chinyoka added only four runs to the board leaving the Eagles on 222 all out in the final over.

Topping the bowling figures for Tuskers was Kegaan meth who claimed three wickets for 54 runs inside his ten overs. Christopher Mpofu bowled well to retain figures of 2 for 31 in 9.1 overs while spinner John Nyumbu also claimed two scalps with Querl and Keith Dabengwa taking a wicket each.

Tuskers opened their account with Captain Gavin Ewing and Brian Chari and put up a first wicket partnership of 138 runs. Chari made 43 while Ewing ended up on 94 and there after the middle order tumbled with poor shot selection being the order of the day. Charles Coventry tried to salvage some pride for the hosts as he made 24 off 28 deliveries, pretty much sealing the eagles’ victory in the 46^th over. In the 47^th over the heavens opened with tuskers 5 runs behind on the Duckworth Lewis par score with Mpofu and Dabengwa at the crease. The match was stopped and the rains persisted giving the Eagles their second Pro 50 crown.

The pick of the bowlers for the visitors was Utseya who took 3 for 41 in 9.5 overs while Waller picked two wickets and Chinyoka, Muzarabani, and Mutombodzi taking a wicket each.