At Queens Sports Club; Sunday 21 October 2012.
Result: Tuskers (96/9) beat MidWest Rhinos (81 all out) by 15 runs.
Tuskers held their nerve to win the T-20 game and complete a fine weekend. After losing the toss for a second consecutive game, Tuskers found themselves batting. However unlike the previous day, they found themselves on the back foot on an over cast, Sunday morning at Queens Sports Club. Tuskers lost wickets at regular intervals and limped their way 96 for 9 in their 20 overs.
Opener Brian Chari hit a massive 6 off the 3rd ball of the innings bowled by Simon Mugava, but that is as good as it got, run rate wise for the man from Matabeleland. Chari eventually fell, caught at deep backward square trying to up the run rate. His 23 coming off 36 balls. An Ervine once again top scored for Tuskers, this time older brother Sean scoring 30 after younger brother and by a long way Tuskers’ best player with the bat this season was out cheaply, experimenting as an opener. The expected avalanche of runs at the back end of the innings, like the previous day failed to materialize.
Richard Muzhange retained impressive figures of 3 for 13 off 3 overs. He found assistance from Edward Rainsford 2 for 15 in his 4 overs and Graeme Cremer 2 for 20 in 4 overs.
The most optimistic of Tuskers’ fans thought the match was over bar the shouting. However like the previous day Rhinos star players failed to come to the party. Vusi Sibanda was trapped in front by Keegan Meth in the very first over. Brendon Taylor tried to be patient, but he too perished before double figures and the Tuskers’ bowlers led by Glen Querl, begun to believe. Remembrance Nyathi 20 and Mark Vermulen 10, top scored for Rhinos who choked chasing a small total. Querl was destroyer in chief, taking 3 for 15 in his 4 overs. Njabulo Ncube 2 for 11 in his 4 overs provided good back up. The Tuskers were excellent in the field with two spectacular run outs aiding their cause Tuskers eventually bowled out the Rhinos to win by 15 runs and put their campaign firmly back on track.
