Metropolitan Bank T20 Final: Easterns v Westerns

One last match to decide the title. It could be argued that Easterns would have had an advantage - after having had a bye on the final morning of the competition, they were entering the match fresh, while Westerns had only completed a game an hour or so before - and Easterns made that advantage count after winning the toss and electing to bat. Early wobbles were steadied with an impressive 82* from 57 balls by Hamilton Masakadza, and although support from the lower order wasn't what it could have been Easterns ended their innings on 142/9 - far from the best score in the competition, but one they would have had good hopes of defending. Thabo Mboyi took 3/20 from his 4 overs for Westerns.

Westerns made a fight of their reply, with good contributions from Keith Dabengwa (42), Greg Strydom (38) and Tafadzwa Ngulube (21) keeping the side within reach of the target. The failure of some other decent batsmen to chip in eventually cost them, though, as they finished their 20 overs just 7 runs short of the target. Prosper Utseya took 2/23 for Easterns, while generally economic bowling all round by the Mutare-based side no doubt helped them secure the title. Full scorecard below the cut - and with that, attention shifts to the Chevrons, and the Standard Bank Pro20 series in South Africa...
Easterns 142/9 (20/20 overs; Masakadza 82*, Mboyi 3/20), Westerns 135/9 (20/20 overs; Dabengwa 42, Utseya 2/23). Easterns win by 7 runs.

Easterns innings (20 overs maximum)
TMK Mawoyo 	lbw b Mboyi 	                3 
S Matsikenyeri 	c Mujuru b Mboyi 	        5 
H Masakadza 	not out 	                82 
F Mutizwa 	b Mboyi 	                2 
SK Nyamuzinga 	c & b Dabengwa 	                18 
P Utseya 	b Dabengwa 	                3 
J Marumisa 	c Ncube b Mpofu 	        10 
T Maruma 	run out 	                10 
S Masakadza 	run out 	                4 
ES Jaure 	run out 	                0 
    Extras 	(lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 	        5 
    Total 	(9 wickets; 20 overs) 	        142 

Did not bat: S Musoso

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-17, 4-42, 5-50, 6-63, 
7-90, 8-133, 9-142

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ 	
CB Mpofu 	4 	0 	30 	1 	7.50 	(2w)
TM Mboyi 	4 	0 	20 	3 	5.00 	
B Staddon 	4 	0 	39 	0 	9.75 	(1nb)
KM Dabengwa 	4 	0 	16 	2 	4.00 	
T Mupariwa 	4 	0 	35 	0 	8.75 	


Westerns innings (target: 143 runs from 20 overs) 
KM Dabengwa 	c Mutizwa b Utseya 	        42 
B Staddon 	c H Masakadza b S Masakadza 	1 
B Mujuru 	run out 	                0 
GM Strydom 	b Jaure 	                38 
T Ngulube 	c & b Utseya 	                21 
MM Mabuza 	run out 	                3
T Mupariwa 	b Nyamuzinga 	                12 
TM Mboyi 	lbw b Nyamuzinga 	        0 
CB Mpofu 	c Mutizwa b H Masakadza 	7 
J Nyumbu 	not out 	                5 
    Extras 	(lb 3, w 3) 	                6 
    Total 	(9 wickets; 20 overs) 	        135

Did not bat: N Ncube

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-9, 3-71, 4-90, 5-96, 6-123, 
7-123, 8-123, 9-135

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ 	
H Masakadza 	4 	0 	24 	1 	6.00 	(1w)
S Masakadza 	2 	0 	26 	1 	13.00 	
SK Nyamuzinga 	4 	0 	24 	2 	6.00 	(1w)
P Utseya 	4 	0 	23 	2 	5.75 	
T Maruma 	4 	0 	24 	0 	6.00 	
ES Jaure 	2 	0 	11 	1 	5.50 	(1w)