Branton Matondo
MUTARE-Westside had the gods to thank this past Monday (May 1) as they shrugged stiff competition from their opponents Mutare Sports Club on the last hurdle of the game courtesy of some fantastic bowling from the youngster Marshford Shungu.
Mutare Sports Club got the ball first at the much anticipated final during midday.
MSC’s experienced duo of Tendai Chatara and Donald Tiripano settled for early wickets.
Bowling from the Mozambican border end, spin bowler John Masara proved too good for Westside middle bagging two wickets in a space of one and a half over.
Westside registered a not so fantastic 125 runs on the scorecard courtesy of some exceptional batting from Definite Mawadze.
In final over of the match, the match turned out to be a scorcher between young Marshford Shungu and Mutare Sports Club last hope Spencer Magodo.
Needing four runs from five balls Shungu, a left arm bowler bowling from the Town End hit the deck with so much precision hitting the middle wicket.
The fall of young Magodo marked a nervy 4 run win for Westside.
Westside head coach Square Square was delighted by the ultimate turn of events on the last dot of the clock though he was irked by the betting display from his charges.
“At the start of the game, we didn’t actually put a good score on the board. The 125 total was a low score meaning that if we were to win the game, we have to field well and bowl with precision,” he said.
Quizzed on whether the weight of games throughout the week had an effect on the pitch Square had a totally different view.
“As you can see, we used two tracks throughout the competition. We used one track in three days and then the other track for four days. Nothing much really changed. The condition of the pitch didn’t change anything.
“We have so many tournaments coming up with national tournaments like the NPL league, so this bash was a preparation for the biggest club tournament in Zimbabwe” he added.
Mutare Sports Club head coach Silent Mujaji appreciated his team’s display with the ball.
“I think the guys played very well, bowled well earlier on. Chatara and Donald took some early wickets and we managed to restrict them to 125 which was a good total to chase. Betting wise, we were not able to keep our wickets and chase the total but at the end it was good batting from young Spencer Magodo. He tried to chase the game which was good to see from him,” he said.
Mujaji added that the focus now is to prepare for the National Premier League which is scheduled to start soon and also get them to play for Mountaineers.
Meanwhile Masters youngster T. Gosho scooped two awards, the bowler of the tournament award and player of the tournament.
Westside middle order batsman Definite Mawadze clinched the best batsman of the tournament.
Westside went home US$ 750 richer. This year’s edition of Manicaland Cricket Association T20 Bash was graced by four teams, Westside, Mutare Sports Club, Dragons from Malawi and Masters from Marondera.
