Mountaineers thump Eagles as Pro50 gets underway

Mountaineers – 289-6 in 50 overs (Joylord Gumbie 90, Kevin Kasuza 52, Gary Chirimuuta 38, Daniel Jakiel 2/55, Richard Ngarava 1/35, Tino Mutombodzi 1/37)

Eagles – 160 all out in 42.2 overs (Tony Munyonga 46, Chamu Chibhabha 42, Patrick Mambo 25; Shingi Masakadza 3/14, Roy Kaia 3/25, Victor Nyauchi 2/18)  

Mountaineers won by 129 runs

Fine attacking fifties from their opening pair, Kevin Kasuza and Joylord Gumbie, led the way to a fine victory for Mountaineers over the defending Pro50 champions, Eagles, at Harare Sports Club today.

The Mutare-based team, thanks to this pair, dominated the match from the start, and Eagles were fighting an uphill battle in chasing a very challenging target of almost 300. On a hot sunny morning, Mountaineers defied tradition at Harare Sports Club by winning the toss and deciding to bat.

Kasuza and Gumbie opened the innings for Mountaineers against the bowling of Richard Ngarava and Trevor Garwe. Kasuza, who has recovered from two concussion accidents in the Test matches against Sri Lanka, batted fluently from the start, and increased the pace as he got set.

He hit Daniel Jakiel for three fours in four balls, and then lofted Garwe for six over wide long-on, which brought up the team 50 in the 10th over. The score was helped along by a few misfields on the part of certain Eagles players.

Kasuza reached his 50 off 68 balls, but soon after that, with the score on 98, he was carelessly run out, failing to ground his bat in time in going for a quick single.

He had made a fine 52 off 69 balls, with six fours and a six.

Roy Kaia scored just a single before edging a cut off Tino Mutombodzi to the keeper, and Richmond Mutumbami took a while to get going.

With Gumbie becalmed, the scoring rate slowed right down for several overs.

Then the two began to speed up again, Gumbie reaching his 50 off 80 balls, and as their partnership passed the 50 mark they were scoring ones and twos off most deliveries by well-placed strokes, with the occasional boundary.

They put on 85 runs at almost five an over before Mutumbami (35), stepping back to cut a ball from Ngarava, chopped the ball on to his stumps at 186 for three. Shingi Masakadza was the right man to send in next, as he immediately attacked the bowling with powerful strokes.

He scored 25 off 10 balls, with two sixes and two fours, before he mistakenly set off for a second run and was easily run out.

Soon after this Gumbie fell for an admirable 90, caught at long-off from the bowling of Jakiel; he faced 122 balls, hit six fours and left with the score 222 for five in the 44th over.

Gary Chirimuuta also hit out boldly, scoring 38 off 20 balls, with three fours and a six, before edging a catch to the keeper off Jakiel at 271 for six in the 48th over, while Garwe removed William Mashinge for seven, which included a six.

The innings ended at 289 for seven with Kudzai Sauramba not out on 15 and Donald Tiripano one. Jakiel was the only bowler to take as many as two wickets, which he did for 55 runs, although Tapiwa Mufudza was the most economical, bowling seven overs for only 18 runs.

With a stiff target, Eagles had to go for the bowling right from the start, but in the first over Tinashe Kamunhukamwe was run out for one, with the score at six.

Regis Chakabva did not manage to settle in before, trying to drive a ball from Victor Nyauchi, he skyed a catch to mid-off for six; 21 for two in the sixth over.

Elton Chigumbura came in, but he scarcely looked a shadow of his former self; he faced 13 balls and was finally dismissed lbw by Nyauchi without scoring. At 32 for three Eagles were in serious trouble, as Tino Mutombodzi came in to join Chamu Chibhabha.

Chibhabha at this stage was outscoring all his partners, but he fell for 42 off 53 balls, skying a pull off Mashinge’s first ball and being well caught by square leg running back.

With the score at 61 for four in the 17th over, Eagles now had little hope of victory, as Tony Munyonga joined Mutombodzi. Mutombodzi scored 15 without ever really looking like mastering the bowling, before he drove a catch to mid-on off Masakadza at 69 for five.

Everything that Eagles could do now was simply a matter of a damage limitation exercise. Munyonga and Patrick Mambo batted together in a useful partnership of 61 runs before Mambo drove a ball from Kaia to be caught at extra cover for 25.

Kaia trapped Garwe lbw with his next delivery, making the score 130 for seven in the 31st over.

Munyonga fought well to score 46 before he was adjudged lbw to Masakadza, and the innings finally faded out for 160, giving Mountaineers victory by 129 runs.

Masakadza finished with the excellent figures of three for 14 off seven overs, while Kaia took three for 25, and there were two wickets for Nyauchi for 18 runs.

The teams meet again in the second leg of their double-header at the same venue tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Tuskers gave Rangers a baptism of fire, defeating the new boys by eight wickets in the other Pro50 Championship match played today at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Tuskers won the toss and asked Rangers, playing their first ever match in this competition and fielding all but two players making their List A debut, to bat first. Rangers were bundled out for 148 within 45 overs, with Johnathan Campbell being their top scorer with 42, while Brian Mudzinganyama chipped in with 24.

The experienced international Brendan Taylor could only contribute 17 off 14 balls, with three boundaries, as the youthful side struggled to cope against their seasoned opponents. Sheunopa Musekwa took three wickets for 29 runs in his 10 overs, while there were two wickets apiece for Ainsley Ndlovu, Sean Williams and Chris Mpofu.

Williams then blasted a quickfire 51 not out off 28 balls, a knock that included five fours and two sixes, as Tuskers chased down the target in 20.3 overs. Brian Chari also finished unbeaten on 48, crafted off 50 deliveries, with four boundaries and two maximums.

Tuskers and Rangers will meet again at the same venue tomorrow.