JAYSON KARAN
The MASHONALAND Eagles managed to defend their Domestic Twenty20 Competition trophy with a thumping 62 runs win over Rhinos in the final at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
The Midwest Rhinos won the toss and selected to bowl first.
After being sent in to bat first, the defending champions Eagles finished on 173/8 in 20 overs courtesy of a Tadiwanashe Marumani half century, the left hander fell for 52 runs off 22 balls. Nick Welch scored 37 runs and Wessly Madhevere made 29 runs to be the teams’ top leading run scorers and managed to bowl out their opponents for 112 runs.
It was also a great day for the Eagles bowling attack as they managed to defend their score by restricting the Rhinos to 112 runs all out.
Rhinos batters failed to hit the ground running as Eagles bowlers proved unplayable with Madhevere and Tawanda Dzikiti leading the pack with three wickets each while England international, Matt Parkinson took two in one over. Richard Ngarava and Tanaka Chivanga picked up one scalp each to guide their side to a second consecutive T20 championship
The Rhinos started their innings poorly with their openers Masvaure who was dismissed by Wessly Madhevere with four runs after only three over and two balls later Eddy Byrom was dismissed by Madhevere with only two runs.
For the Rhinos, Tashinga Musekiwa was the top batsman with 38 runs not out, Ryan Burl fell for 18 runs while Brandon Mavuta and Carl Mumba were dismissed with eleven runs each to be the only Rhinos batsmen to cross double figures.
Meanwhile, the Matebeleland Tuskers finished the tournament in fourth place after losing the third place playoffs by eleven runs to the Southern Rocks at Harare Sports Club.
After winning the toss, the Bulawayo side elected to field first and restricted their opponents to 139 runs for eight wickets in twenty overs but failed to chase the score as they were all bowled out for 128 runs in nineteen overs.