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)
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