Zimbabwe Cricket's just-ended Domestic T20 Fiesta provided avid followers of the game with some brilliant, exciting, and promising cricket performances; with the Eagles defending their title as they were crowned the T20 champions. Here is a quick review of the tournament.
ASHLEY DUBE
The Mashonaland Eagles outclassed the Midwest Rhinos in the just-ended Domestic T20 final by 62 runs, defending their crown from previous season. The Eagles produced an excellent all-round display carrying over from their encounter with the Southern Rocks.
The Eagles were put in to bat first and after losing the wicket of Kudzai Maunze early, Nick Welch and Wessly Madhevere steadied the ship with a 52 run stand for the second wicket before Madhevere was clean-bowled by Brandon Mavuta.
Jonathan Campbell got the big wicket of Chamu Chibhabha. This brought the exciting Tadiwanashe Marumani to the crease and he blunted the Rhinos attack with some aggressive hitting. His quick-fire 52 off 22 balls was an exhibition of impeccable T20 batting.
Striking at a rate of 236 with five fours and three sixes to his name, Marumani was instrumental as the Eagles put a very commendable 173 on the board.
In reply, the Rhinos found themselves in all sorts of trouble as their top order collapsed in the opening power play and were reeling at 15-4 after four overs.
Wessly Madhevere was the chief destroyer with three of the wickets. The Rhinos never got going albeit an impressive 38 off 20 balls from youngster Tashinga Musekiwa — the Eagles were comfortable throughout their defence picking crucial wickets at regular intervals and they eventually bowled out for 111.
This marked the end of an action-packed, highly entertaining Zimbabwe Domestic T20 Fiesta.
The major highlight was the performances of Cephas Zhuwao up the order for the Rocks. He wowed the crowds with some out-of-the-world, hard-hitting batting as he finished top run scorer with 240 runs from six innings, averaging 40 with four fifties.
Peter Moor was also equally impressive finishing with 196 runs from just four innings.
They were also flashes of brilliance from the up and coming players throughout the tournament. The usual suspects Tadiwanashe Marumani and Wessly Madhevere shone at the back end of the tournament for the Eagles as they ensured a successful title defence.
U-19 left-arm seamer Mashford Shungu for Mega Market Mountaineers was scintillating on his debut against the Tuskers, finishing with figures of 3-17 from his four overs.
Brian Bennett, also for the Mega Market Mountaineers, impressed in his maiden franchise T20 tournament with an average of 33.16 and a high score of 62 not out.
Tashinga Musekiwa also is another promising and exciting talent to watch — his ability to clear the boundary at ease is incredible; and he finished the tournament with a strike rate of 176.36. Talent Dzikiti and Alex Falao were brilliant with the ball for the Eagles as well.
Meanwhile the Chevrons are set to return to action when they face the Netherlands next month for three one day internationals.
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