Ervine unstoppable again as Tuskers seek T20 glory

(Craig Ervine 73*, Charles Kunje 39, Sean Williams 25; Solomon Mire 1/17, Tendai Chisoro 1/25, Mike Chinouya 1/40)

(Tendai Chisoro 21, Vusi Sibanda 19, Christopher Masike 14; Charlton Tshuma 3/23, Sheunopa Musekwa 2/15, Ainsley Ndlovu 2/20)

ANOTHER Craig Ervine masterpiece, this time of 73 not out, was the backbone of the match-winning Tuskers total of 189 for only four wickets against Rhinos in a Domestic Twenty20 Competition match played at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Rhinos shaped up badly in reply and could only manage a total of 106, the margin between the sides being 83 runs.

Under grey skies, winds and with rain threatening, Rhinos won the toss and put Tuskers in to bat.

They had no early success, as Brian Chari and Shoun Handirisi put together a good opening partnership of 38 in less than five overs, before Chari (13) miscued a drive and lobbed a simple catch to mid-off.

Handirisi did not survive him long, being caught at the wicket off Solomon Mire for 22, bringing the two international left-handers, Ervine and Sean Williams, together.

Williams virtually took over the bowling for a while, taking almost all the strike and running up 25 off 17 balls, before Tendai Chisoro came on and immediately had him caught at the wicket; 77 for three in the 10th over.

This left the way open for Ervine to take command again.

Once more he was imperious and the bowlers helpless as he ran to his fifty off 27 balls, making batting look easy all the time.

At the other end Charles Kunje was also playing well, especially when he played a neat scoop off Mike Chinouya that sent the ball sailing high over long leg for six.

The partnership put on 110 in 10 overs before Kunje was run out off the penultimate ball of the innings for 39 off 28 balls.

Ervine scored a single off the final delivery to take the total to a daunting 189 for four wickets; his own score was 73 off 43 balls, with five fours and four sixes.

Only Chisoro of the bowlers avoided severe punishment, his four overs giving him the wicket of Williams for 25 runs.

Light rain started just as the players returned to the field, and there was just time for five deliveries before it became too heavy to continue. Prince Masvaure pulled the second ball, from Sheunopa Musekwa, for a single, while Solomon Mire dabbled at the fifth ball outside his off stump and was caught at the wicket without scoring.

The delay lasted only about 10 minutes, and Rhinos quickly lost Masvaure (3), who slashed a ball from Charlton Tshuma straight to cover; three for two wickets.

PJ Moor did not look comfortable, and he was soon caught at backward point off Tshuma for one, and at 11 for three Rhinos were in deep trouble.

Ryan Burl came in to join Vusi Sibanda, who so far this competition has shown few signs of his superb natural ability.

This pair was Rhinos’ last hope, but when Burl (6) cut a ball from Chris Mpofu and was superbly caught low down in the gully by Williams, to make the total 19 for four, Rhinos knew they were doomed.

Sibanda gave glimpses of his great days, but his innings came to an end on 19 when he was well stumped by Handirisi off a leg-side wide from Williams; 36 for five in the eighth over.

Neville Madziva brought a rare good moment to the innings when he swung a ball from Ainsley Ndlovu over the leg boundary for six.

Madziva and Mayavo resisted for a while to add 21 for the sixth wicket before another brilliant catch, this one by Kunje at backward point, removed Nyasha Mayavo for 13; 57 for six.

Chisoro scored 21 off 20 balls before skying a catch to mid-on off Tshuma, Carl Mumba hit a four to take the total past 100 before also being caught off a skyer, while the new man Christopher Masike played well to score 14 before being last man out, caught on the midwicket boundary.

The total was 106, very disappointing from a team which seemed to have imploded since winning their first two matches.

The Tuskers bowlers enjoyed themselves, with Tshuma taking three for 23, while there were two wickets each for Musekwa, Mpofu and Ndlovu, all conceding fewer than 25 runs.

Most of the Rhinos innings was played in a little drizzle, but the show went on.

During the luncheon interval the rain grew heavier, forcing the match between Eagles and Mountaineers to be abandoned without a ball being bowled, two points going to each side.

2018/19 Domestic Twenty20 Competition Points Table