The Durban Qalandars displayed a dominant performance in Qualifier 2 of the Zim Afro T10 at the Harare Sports Club, securing a convincing 4-wicket victory against the Harare Hurricanes. The Qalandars, who finished atop the league stage, will now face the Joburg Buffaloes in the tournament final on Saturday.
Batting first, Harare Hurricanes’ openers Robin Uthappa and Evin Lewis aimed for quick runs but lost Lewis early. Brad Evans struck crucial blows by dismissing Uthappa, Regis Chakabva, and Mohammad Nabi, creating pressure on the Hurricanes. Donovan Ferreira showed resistance, but the Hurricanes struggled to build partnerships, eventually posting 82/8.
In response, the Qalandars’ Hazratullah Zazai started aggressively, but Nandre Burger removed Tim Seifert and Andre Fletcher cheaply. Zazai and Nick Welch steadied the innings, contributing to a 26-run partnership. Zazai’s departure brought Craig Ervine and Asif Ali to the crease, with the latter being the aggressor before falling to Luke Jongwe.
However, Ervine and Azmatullah Omarzai took control, steering the Qalandars towards victory. Omarzai’s powerful six over mid-wicket off Sreesanth sealed the deal for the Qalandars, who completed the chase with over an over to spare.
Player of the match, Brad Evans, impressed with his brilliant bowling, claiming four wickets for 16 runs in his quota of overs. The Qalandars’ cohesive performance saw them advance to the final, setting up a thrilling clash with the Joburg Buffaloes to determine the inaugural Zim Afro T10 champion.
Brief Scores:
Harare Hurricanes: 82/8 (Samit Patel 39*, Robin Uthappa 17; Brad Evans 4/16, Daryn Dupavillon 2/18)
Durban Qalandars: 84/6 (Hazratullah Zazai 25, Asif Ali 18; Nandre Burger 2/13, Luke Jongwe 2/25)
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