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Brandon Moyo, [email protected]

THE Tuskers Academy side that is presently playing against the Botswana national team in a T20 series have extended their lead to 5-1 after completing a double at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) on Tuesday afternoon.

Going into Tuesday’s matches enjoying a 3-1 lead, Tuskers continued with their dominance, winning the low-scoring morning encounter by 39 runs before registering a 27-run victory in the afternoon game.

It was their fifth consecutive win having lost the opening game on Saturday. Batting first in the morning, the hosts were restricted to 128/9 in their 20 overs before their bowlers came to the party to dismantle Botswana’s bowling unit for 89 runs all out in 18,3 overs.

It was not the best of outings with the bat for the Bulawayo-based side who – in the previous game managed to chase down the 180 runs target that Botswana set.

Skipper, Bright Phiri top-scored for the hosts with 25 runs off 19 balls while their number 11 batter, Prince Kaunda had a meaningful contribution with the bat. Kaunda remained undefeated on 20 runs off 15 balls with Calvin Mubvute making 19 runs from 15 deliveries.

Katlo Piet and Thatayone Tshose did the damage with the ball for Botswana, both picking three wickets apiece. Piet went for 20 runs in his four overs while Tshose, in as many overs, gave away just 22 runs. William Nkosana finished with figures of 2/19 in his two-over spell.

Arnold Shara and Taboka Manyalo would also produce brilliant spells with the ball for Tuskers. In 3,3 overs. Shara took three wickets while conceding just 12 runs while Manyalo finished his four-over spell with figures of 3/27.

Mounroux Kasselman top-scored for Botswana with 27 runs off 29 deliveries. In the afternoon game, Tuskers won the toss and elected to bat first and they scored 154/6 in 20 overs before going on to restrict Botswana to 127/9 in their 20 overs.

In the afternoon game, Tuskers won the toss and elected to bat first and they scored 154/6 in 20 overs before restricting Botswana to 127/9 in their 20 overs.

It was a decent batting display in the second game by the home side. Brandon James was their leading run scorer with 38 runs off 33 balls while Adrian Mupembe made 28 runs from 13 balls. Phiri and Mubvute scored 26 runs apiece, however, the latter remained not out.

Piet would, once again, be the pick of the Botswana bowlers. He finished with figures of 2/25 in four overs as Boemo Khumalo, Losika Makgale, Reginald Nehonde and Kasselman picked up one wicket each.

Three Tuskers bowlers picked two scalps apiece in the game’s second innings. It was Tinaye Muzonde (2/22), Dumoluhle Dube (2/25) and Cedric Dube (2/24) who led the hosts’ bowling unit. They all bowled four overs. Mupembe and James picked up one wicket each to help their team record their fifth victory.

Kasselman top scored for the visitors with 26 runs from 15 balls while Valentine Mbazo and Phemelo Silas both scored 25 runs.
With Tuskers enjoying dominance, Botswana will be hoping to register their second victory when the two teams face off in the seventh game scheduled for this morning. Only one game is set to take place today. The remaining five games will be played tomorrow (one match), Saturday and Sunday (two matches on both days).

Morning matches start at 10am while the afternoon encounters are pencilled in for a 13.30pm start. All matches are free of charge for spectators. —@brandon_malvin