In a thrilling encounter at the Harare Sports Club, the Harare Hurricanes showcased an outstanding batting performance led by Robin Uthappa, propelling them to a commanding victory against the Durban Qalandars in the Zim Afro T10 on 26th July 2023.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Harare Hurricanes openers, Robin Uthappa and Regis Chakabva, set the stage on fire with their explosive batting right from the beginning. The Qalandars’ bowlers struggled to contain the rampant duo, as boundaries flowed effortlessly from their bats.
Uthappa and Chakabva combined their experience and skills to construct a formidable partnership. They reached the half-century mark in quick time and looked set to post an imposing total on the board. Uthappa, in particular, was in magnificent touch, treating the crowd to an exhibition of powerful hitting.
In the 7th over, with the score at 92, Uthappa reached his well-deserved half-century off just 23 balls, displaying a flurry of sixes and boundaries. However, shortly after reaching the milestone, he was dismissed for a brilliant 53, putting the Hurricanes in a strong position.
Donovan Ferreira, the in-form batsman of the tournament, joined Chakabva in the middle, and together they continued the aggressive approach. Chakabva’s explosive innings ended in the 9th over when he scored 43 runs, showcasing his prowess with 3 sixes and 4 boundaries.
The late flourish from Ferreira (24) and Mohammad Nabi (2) enabled the Harare Hurricanes to reach a challenging total of 134/2 after the completion of their 10 overs.
Chasing a steep target, the Durban Qalandars required a solid start from their top order. Unfortunately, they faced an early setback when the in-form Tim Seifert was dismissed for just 8 runs in the 3rd over.
Andre Fletcher, who was promoted up the order, showed his class and took charge of the innings along with Hazratullah Zazai. The duo combined aggression with finesse, entertaining the spectators with a dazzling display of strokeplay.
As the partnership flourished, the Hurricanes’ bowlers struggled to break through their defenses. Fletcher, in particular, was in sensational form and completed a brilliant half-century off just 25 deliveries in the 9th over.
With the dew aiding batting conditions, the Qalandars’ hopes were kept alive going into the final over, requiring 31 runs to win. However, the Hurricanes’ bowlers held their nerve, and although Zazai (49) fought valiantly until the end, the Qalandars fell short by 24 runs.
The Harare Hurricanes secured a well-deserved victory, with their bowlers Luke Jongwe (2/19) and Mohammad Nabi (0/19) playing crucial roles in restricting the Qalandars to 110/2 in their 10 overs.
Player of the Match, Robin Uthappa, stole the show with his match-winning half-century, providing the Hurricanes with the impetus to claim a comprehensive victory over the Durban Qalandars. This win marks a memorable moment in the Zim Afro T10 for the Harare Hurricanes and will surely boost their confidence as the tournament progresses.
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