ASHLEY DUBE
Bulawayo Braves halt the Harare Hurricanes
The Bulawayo Braves, started the Zim Afro T-10 on a winning note, with a comprehensive 49 run victory over the Harare Hurricanes. The surge to victory was inspired by skipper Sikandar Raza’s outstanding all-rounder performance as he scored the first half century of the tournament and followed it up with a three-wicket haul finishing with figures of 3-12 from his two overs.
The Hurricanes’ pursuit of 129 never got going as they were strangled by the Braves’ pace quartet comprising of Taskin Ahmed (1-7), Tymal Mills (2-12), Faraz Akram, and impact player Tanaka Chivanga who finished with figures of 1-6 from his solitary over. Mohammad Nabi top scored for the Hurricanes with 22.
The Braves, after being put on to bat first, opened with Brian McDermott and Kobey Herft and they put on 18 in the first power play. Chris Mpofu rolled back the years and bowled in the second over of the match, conceding only 6 runs.
Jongwe got the first wicket of the tournament removing Brian Mcdermott off a low full toss. Fellow opener Kobey Herft departed the next ball, run-out by former England skipper Eoin Morgan.
Player of the tournament Tino Maposa, from the emerging training program, impressed in his first over getting two wickets. He first removed Ashton Turner who was caught behind before bowling out Ryan Burl the very next ball.
Sikandar Raza soldiered on with wickets tumbling on at the other end with some lusty blows, finishing unbeaten on 61 from 30 balls with 4 fours and 5 sixes to his name. Leg-spinner Brandon Mavuta was the pick of the bowling for the Hurricanes with figures of 3-25.
Durban Qalandars edges out Camp Town Samp Army
Durban Qalandars survived a late 66 run stand for the sixth wicket between Parthiv Patel and Karim Janat as they edged out the Samp Army by 8 runs in their opening match of the Zim Afro T10 League.
The Craig Ervine captained side won the toss and elected to bat first. And they had a blistering start led by openers Tim Seifeirt and Harzmuttulah Zazai as they raced to sixty-two without loss after four overs. Halfway through the innings the were on 74 without loss and threatened to set a score over 150.
Samp Army did a great a job in pulling back the scoring rate down particularly Tom Curran and Mujeeb Rahman. The pair were rewarded with wickets with Mujeeb getting the all-important wicket of Seifeit who fell one short of his 50. With his 49 coming from 22 balls.
Karim Janat’s expensive last over going for 26 runs swung back the match in Qalandar’s favour as they set 127 for the win. Cape Town’s chase was steady but wickets fell at regular intervals; Cephas Zhuwao was the first to depart caught behind of the bowling of Brad Evans.
Ormazai chipped in with another, before George Linde got two wickets in his first over including the big one of Sean Williams for a golden duck. When Tom Curran was also dismissed without troubling the scorers, it seemed the Qalandars had sealed the victory. However, the partnership between Patel and Janat threatened to pull off a memorable chase with some aggressive power hitting but the Qalandars managed to see them off with as they fell 8 runs short.
Buffaloes stun the Braves
In the final match of the night, the Johannesburg Buffaloes beat the Bulawayo Braves by 10 runs. Joburg Buffaloes captain Mohammad Hafeez delivered an exceptional performance, taking six wickets for the loss of only four runs as his team defended a total of 105, winning the match by 10 runs.
Batting first, the Joburg Buffaloes lost wickets consistently early in their innings. Will Smeed, Mohammad Hafeez, Ravi Bopara, and Delano Potgieter were all dismissed within the first three overs, with Taskin Ahmed claiming three of those wickets. Tom Banton provided some resistance, scoring a quick 34 runs from 18 deliveries. He was supported by Mushfiqur Rahim, and together they added 36 runs to stabilize the innings.
Even as Banton and other batsmen including Wessly Madhevere and Wellington Masakadza were dismissed, Rahim remained resolute, finishing unbeaten on 46. The Joburg Buffaloes managed to reach a total of 105 runs for the loss of seven wickets.
In response, Wellington Masakadza made an impact by taking three key wickets, including the openers and Ashton Turner, who was dismissed without scoring a run.
In the fourth over, Braves' captain Sikandar Raza, who had performed well in the previous match, was bowled out for just 1 run by Joburg Buffaloes captain Mohammad Hafeez. Hafeez continued his impressive bowling by dismissing Thisara Perera and Timycen Maruma for ducks in the same over. As a result, the Braves were in a difficult position at 35/6 in just four overs. Hafeez's first over was exceptional, not conceding any runs and taking three important wickets.
Hafeez later took the wickets of Burl, Tymal Mills, and Tanunurwa Makoni to further cement his outstanding performance.
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