In an unforgettable bowling performance, young Zimbabwean fast bowler Tinashe Muchawaya pulled off a remarkable comeback to clinch victory for the Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers over the Cape Town Samp Army in the final of the Zim Afro T10 at the Harare Sports Club. Muchawaya’s brilliance in the final four deliveries turned the match around when it seemed lost, leading the Tigers to a dramatic 5-wicket win and their first-ever Zim Afro T10 title.
Opting to bat first, the Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers, led by Sikandar Raza, started aggressively with their openers Kusal Perera and Mohammad Shahzad launching a flurry of boundaries early on. The duo raced to a solid 50-run stand, scoring 59 runs in under four overs. Perera, who blasted 33 off just 11 balls, was eventually trapped LBW by Qais Ahmed, but his fireworks had already set the tone for the innings.
Shahzad, continuing his fine form after a match-winning half-century in the first Qualifier, kept the momentum going and was joined by Hazratullah Zazai. By the halfway mark of their innings, the Tigers were comfortably placed at 60/1. Later in the innings, Tashinga Musekiwa added some crucial late runs, smashing his first ball for a six. The Tigers closed their innings on a competitive 129/5 in 10 overs.
In response, the Cape Town Samp Army got off to a steady start. In-form batter Brian Bennett took 12 runs off Adam Milne’s first over, while Luke Wood followed up by conceding nine more runs in the second over. Dawid Malan and Bennett, both in good form coming into the final, looked composed at the crease and were building a solid partnership. Malan brought up his fifty with a classy drive through point and began unleashing his full repertoire of shots.
The game boiled down to the final over, with the Samp Army needing 21 runs to win. Jack Taylor smashed Muchawaya for two sixes off the first two balls, reducing the equation to just nine runs off the final four balls. However, Muchawaya held his nerve, executing his deliveries perfectly to restrict the batters, turning the tide and sealing a thrilling victory for the Tigers.
Muchawaya’s late-over heroics will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come as the Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers emerged victorious in a gripping final to lift the Zim Afro T10 title.
Score in brief:
- Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers: 129/5 in 10 overs
(Kusal Perera 33, Mohammad Shahzad 28, Tashinga Musekiwa 6; Qais Ahmed 1-19)* - Cape Town Samp Army: 124/5 in 10 overs
(Dawid Malan 52, Brian Bennett 37, Jack Taylor 18; Tinashe Muchawaya 1-27) - Player of the Match: Tinashe Muchawaya (Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers)
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