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Brian Chari

Senior Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Tuskers assured themselves of a home final in the Pro50 Championship with a 74-run victory over Mashonaland Eagles in a limited overs cricket encounter played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday.

Tuskers, who finished on top of the table and second placed Eagles, square off in the concluding match of the country’s 50 over domestic competition at the same venue on Saturday.

Opening batsman Brian Chari top scored for the home team with 115 runs off 125 deliveries, despatching 11 fours and two sixes while left hander Nkosana Mpofu was second best with 50 runs as Tuskers, who lost the toss, were sent in to bat and posted 279 runs for the loss of five wickets in 50 overs.

Left arm seamer Brian Vitori bowled a fiery spell which saw him pick up three wickets for 39 runs in the 10 overs he sent down as Eagles were bowled out for 205 runs in 43 overs. Off spinner John Nyumbu also took three wickets at the expense of 41 runs in eight overs, one of those overs not costing any run. Nyumbu’s figures were spoiled by two sixes taken off his bowling by the last batsman in for Eagles Tatenda Manatsa. There was one wicket each for pace bowlers Christopher Mpofu, Luke Jongwe and left arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu.

Christopher Mpofu showed his experience, getting a wicket in the first over of the Eagles innings when he bowled Cephas Zhuwawo for a two-ball duck.

Wicketkeeper Joylord Gumbie, coming in to bat at number six, was the highest run scorer for Eagles with 39 runs while opening batsman Keith Kondo was second best with 33 runs.

The two teams are highly expected to beef up their squads for the final with national team players who have returned from the International Cricket Council Cricket World in Australia and New Zealand.

Sean Williams as well as Tawanda Mupariwa should turn out for Tuskers while for Eagles Prosper Utseya, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Regis Chakabva and Sikandar Raza are sure to be in the line up.