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Zimbabwe Chevrons had their MTN Domestic Championship match against Gestetner Diamond Eagles all but sewn up on Wednesday, but some questionable bowling changes in the dying overs handed Eagles a win they probably didn't deserve, and left Chevrons without any points on the table after three matches played - the only side in the competition to make such a poor start.

Batting first, Chevrons initially struggled to get the scoring going at a decent rate, but anchored by Sean Williams' 102 (his maiden century in List A cricket & the outstanding batting performance of the day), they eventually reached 218 from their 45 overs - not a great score, but not a poor one either. Roger Telemachus was the pick of the Eagles bowlers, taking 2/39 from his 9 overs.

In reply, Eagles started poorly, losing a number of wickets early in the innings and being unable to keep up with the required rate. The arrival of Boeta Dippenaar was the beginning of the turnaround, though, as the Proteas player dug in and gradually began to up the run-rate. By the closing overs, he'd formed a valuable partnership with Dillon du Preez, but Eagles were still behind the required rate - until, around the 38th over, an injury to Chris Mpofu prompted a bowling change decision that changed the course of the match, as - despite several recognised bowlers still having overs to spare - wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu was tossed the ball, partnering another part-timer, Sean Williams. Eagles had been well enough contained at this point that victory was well within Chevrons' grasp, but faced with this decidedly second-rate bowling combination, Dippenaar cut loose, with Williams going for 15 runs off 2 overs and Taibu a disastrous 29 from his 2.4 overs - and from needing over 1 run a ball to win, Eagles suddenly found themselves winning with 14 balls remaining. No doubt the thank-you card will be in the post.

Full scorecard below the cut. Zimbabwe Chevrons' next match is against the Cape Cobras, at Harare Sports Club on Sunday (17th). With the side already out-of-touch at the bottom of the MTN table, only a win will do.
Chevrons 218/7 (45 overs; Williams 102, Telemachus 2/39), Eagles 221/7 (42.4 overs; Dippenaar 87*, Brent 2/37). Eagles win by 3 wickets.

Zimbabwe innings (45 overs maximum) 
V Sibanda 	c van Wyk b du Preez 	                2 
H Masakadza 	c van Wyk b Mpitsang 	                23 
SC Williams 	c du Preez b Telemachus 	        102 
T Taibu 	c du Preez b Tshabalala 	        18 
BRM Taylor 	c & b Rudolph 	                        7 
RW Chakabva 	run out (Kruger/McLaren) 	        20 
E Chigumbura 	not out 	                        28 
AG Cremer 	c van Wyk b Telemachus 	                1 
    Extras 	(b 5, lb 6, w 6) 	                17 
    Total 	(7 wickets; 45 overs; 182 mins) 	218 

Did not bat: GB Brent, RW Price, CB Mpofu

Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Sibanda, 2.4 ov), 2-58 (Masakadza, 16.2 ov), 
3-107 (Taibu, 27.5 ov), 4-118 (Taylor, 30.5 ov), 5-166 (Chakabva, 38.5 ov), 
6-210 (Williams, 44.2 ov), 7-218 (Cremer, 44.6 ov)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ 	
D du Preez 	9 	2 	46 	1 	5.11 	
R McLaren 	8 	0 	40 	0 	5.00 	(5w)
PV Mpitsang 	5 	0 	22 	1 	4.40 	
R Telemachus 	9 	0 	39 	2 	4.33 	
T Tshabalala 	9 	0 	38 	1 	4.22 	
JA Rudolph 	5 	0 	22 	1 	4.40 	


Eagles innings (target: 219 runs from 45 overs)
MN van Wyk 	c Taibu b Chigumbura 	                15 
JA Rudolph 	lbw b Brent 	                        8 
D Elgar 	c Taibu b Brent 	                4 
HH Dippenaar 	not out 	                        87 
RT Bailey 	b Price 	                        6 
R McLaren 	b Cremer 	                        12 
AK Kruger 	b Cremer 	                        10 
R Telemachus 	c Sibanda b Williams 	                17 
D du Preez 	not out 	                        47 
    Extras 	(b 5, lb 2, w 6, nb 2) 	                15 
    Total 	(7 wickets; 42.4 overs; 176 mins) 	221 

Did not bat: T Tshabalala, PV Mpitsang

Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Rudolph, 3.3 ov), 2-25 (Elgar, 7.1 ov), 
3-41 (van Wyk, 12.5 ov), 4-65 (Bailey, 17.4 ov), 
5-96 (McLaren, 26.3 ov), 6-110 (Kruger, 30.4 ov), 
7-133 (Telemachus, 35.4 ov)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ 	
E Chigumbura 	8 	1 	33 	1 	4.12 	(1w)
GB Brent 	8.4 	0 	37 	2 	4.26 	(1w)
CB Mpofu 	5.2 	0 	32 	0 	6.00 	(2nb, 2w)
RW Price 	9 	1 	21 	1 	2.33 	
AG Cremer 	7 	0 	47 	2 	6.71 	
SC Williams 	2 	0 	15 	1 	7.50 	
T Taibu 	2.4 	0 	29 	0 	10.87 	(1w)