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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Select missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament in South Africa when they finished third in their pool with three wins from the four matches they played in Oudtshoorn.

Zimbabwe Select finished third in Pool B behind winners Gauteng and second-placed Northerns.

Gauteng booked a place in the semi-finals to be played on September 23.

Despite failing to make the semi-finals, this was by far Zimbabwe’s best display at the Africa Cup T20 as they had registered just one win since the start of the tournament in 2015 when they beat Western Province in the inaugural edition.

Led by top order batsman Tarisai Musakanda, who was deputised by wicketkeeper Ryan Murray, Zimbabwe Select started off badly last Friday when they fell by seven wickets to Gauteng. That was to be their only loss, as they went on to defeat Free State by seven wickets.

After limiting Free State to 145 for five in 20 overs, Zimbabwe Select successfully chased the target for the loss of three wickets and 24 balls to spare. Musakanda top scored with an unbeaten 38, while Murray was also unbeaten on 29.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe Select beat Northerns by six wickets. Left-arm spinner Rugare Magarira and pace bowler Patrick Mlambo picked up two wickets apiece as Northerns posted 137 for six.

Musakanda once again stood out with the bat, top scoring with an unbeaten 67 runs, while Murray was second best with 46, as Zimbabwe Select reached the target with four balls to spare.

They registered a five-wicket win over South Western Districts on Sunday when they again successfully beat the South Africans target of 148 for five.

Murray was the highest run scorer for Zimbabwe Select with 77 runs, while Musakanda was second best with an unbeaten 56.

Musakanda is part of Zimbabwe’s squad for the Twenty20 International matches against South Africa, while Murray is in the team for the one-day internationals against the Proteas.

With the Chevrons heading off to South Africa next week to play three ODIs and the same number of T20Is, coach Lalchand Rajput must have been impressed with the way the two played in the Africa Cup T20 competition. – @Mdawini_29