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THE Zimbabwe President’s XI cricket team crashed out of the Africa T20 Cup after finishing third in Pool A at Sahara Park Willowmoore in Benoni, South Africa, at the weekend.

Although they finished the tour on a winning note, an eight-wicket victory over Western Province on Sunday, the President’s XI missed out on the semi-finals scheduled for the first weekend of October.

Their opening fixture against Easterns was washed out on Saturday without a ball being bowled.

Zimbabwe made 117-8 in their allotted 20 overs in their next match against Northerns as they struggled to contend with the swinging pink ball. Only Malcolm Waller and Richmond Mutumbami offered little resistance scoring 36 runs each.

In reply, Northerns relied on the vast experience of Albie Morkel, whose unbeaten half-century made the run-chase much easier against a determined President’s XI bowling attack.

Sunday’s final fixture against Western Province was a must-win for the President’s XI. They restricted Province to 145-3 with Pieter Malan excelling with the bat on his way to an unbeaten 79, but his partners struggled for fluency.

Zimbabwe cruised 147-2 through a series of steady partnerships in the top order. Kevin Kasuza and Peter Moor put on 70 for the first wicket, Moor and Waller 37 for the second wicket and Waller and Mutumbami completed the successful chase with an unbroken 40-run third wicket partnership off three overs, with Mutumbami knocking 20 runs off seven balls.

The eight-wicket victory enabled Zimbabwe to finish tied on six points with Easterns, but the South Africans’ superior run rate saw them progressing. Northerns won the group with 10 points.

Match 1

Easterns v Zimbabwe President’’s XI

Match abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Match 2

Zimbabwe – 117 for 8 in 20 overs (Malcolm Waller 36, Richmond Mutumbami 36; L.Ngindi 3/14)

Northerns – 118 for 4 in 18 overs (Albie Morkel 53*; Wellington Masakadza 3/12)

Northerns won by six wickets.

Match 3

Western Province – 145 for 3 in 20 overs (P. Malan 79*; Malcolm Waller 2/14)

Zimbabwe – 147 for 2 in 18.2 overs (Malcolm Waller 48*, Kevin Kasuza 41)

Zimbabwe won by eight wickets. — Online