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Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
KNOX Mutizwa of Highlanders FC took his soccer form to cricket, being the club’s top scorer after hitting 27 runs off 28 balls as the Bulawayo giants lost by 40 runs to Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise yesterday. The match, played before a sizeable crowd at Queens Sports Club saw Bosso send their opponents to bat after winning the toss.

Highlanders’ disciplined bowling from Soccer Star of the Year finalist Mutizwa, Adrian Silla and Moreblessing Nyokanhete restricted Tuskers to 139 runs for 7 in 15 overs. Mutizwa got the best bowling figures of 2/27.

Seasoned cricketer Christopher Mpofu top-scored for Tuskers, contributing 51 runs off 61 balls.

In reply Tuskers humiliated the football giants to 100 runs all out in 19.3 overs with Mutizwa coming out tops with 27 runs off 28 balls.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket board chairman Vumi Moyo lauded Highlanders for honouring their pledge to play them in the much anticipated “Battle of the City” clash.

“I would like to appreciate Highlanders for honouring their pledge to play us on very short notice and all I can say is that I’m very impressed with their type of play because they showed that they know something about cricket.

“I’m really grateful because it shows that our plan to create a relationship with our brothers was already underway before this tournament,” said Moyo.

Highlanders FC technical advisor Cosmas Zulu echoed the same sentiments adding that players from both sides needed to take discipline seriously to achieve better results and maximum performance.

“I would like to thank Tuskers for the initiative that they showed in creating a bond between the two sporting brands. My only worry as of now is discipline and I would like to urge the players from both brands to make professionalism their number one priority as without discipline you can’t achieve anything,” said Zulu.

Highlanders and Tuskers play a football match at Queens Sports Club this morning.