Matabeleland Tuskers edge to second win

Matabeleland Tuskers 218 for 7 (Wheater 69, Chisoro 4-26) beat Southern Rocks 213 for 6 (Chitongo 73, Nyumbu 3-31) by 5 runs
Scorecard

Matabeleland Tuskers earned their second win in the Metbank Pro40, edging past Southern Rocks by five runs in a thrilling encounter at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Mbekezeli Mabuza was the hero for the for Matabeleland Tuskers, starring with bat and ball to help his side over the line. He made an unbeaten 46 before delivering the crucial last over which sealed the win by restricting Southern Rocks to just four when 10 was needed for victory.

Mabuza had earlier on shared century stand with wicketkeeper Adam Wheater, who again top scored with 69, to help Matabeleland Tuskers recover from a 79 for 5 in the 18th over to reach 218.

Wheater got the bulk of his runs with the slog sweep and raced to his fifty from 52 deliveries, smashing three fours before becoming one of left-arm-seamer Tendai Chisoro's four victims. Mabuza found another partner in Bradley Staddon and the two shared in a seventh-wicket stand of 36 as Mabuza finished unbeaten on 46 from 66 balls with Staddon contributing a breezy 20 off 11.

In their chase Southern Rocks failed to capitalise on an ideal start from their openers Tendai Chitongo (73) and Steve Marillier (55) who put on 102 runs for the first wicket before left-arm-spinner Williams induced Marillier to hole out in the deep.

Offspinner John Nyumbu picked up three quick wickets to peg back the visitors and Mabuza reduced them to 189 for 6 with four wickets but Southern Rocks were still in hunt by the final over before Mabuza sealed the win.