Wise Owl and Falcon into St John’s Rams T20 Eliminators
Wise Owl High School charged to an 83-run win over Churchill Boys’ High to punch their tickets to the Eliminator round of the St John’s College (Harare) Rams T20 Tournament, in Harare, on Saturday afternoon.
They joined the hosts, as well as Falcon College (Bulawayo), and Kearsney College in the four-team playoffs.
The Marondera-based side won the toss, chose to bat first, and ran up the second-highest total of the competition, 218/7, against Churchill.
The highest score of 232/2 was posted by St John’s against Prince Edward, and the third highest and only other 200-plus run total was Hellenic Academy‘s 201/7 against St George’s College.
Wise Owl started slowly. It was only when Tadiwanashe Kurehwatira reached the crease in the fourth over that their run rate picked up. His contribution was 47 off 35 balls. However, the arrival of Thelson Madziwana turbo-charged their innings, with the middle-order batsman launching five sixes and as many fours in a scintillating 35-ball 67.
Madziwana’s knock alone would not have been enough to send Wise Owl’s total beyond 200 runs, but they were helped along by Churchill’s bowling attack, which contributed 38 runs to the overall total of 48 extras. The biggest culprit was Ryan Madzima, who couldn’t get his lines right and conceded 42 runs in an 18-ball over littered with wides and no-balls.
Wise Owl’s bowlers bowled with better discipline to restrict Churchill to 135/6 from their 20 overs. The Marondera team’s bowling attack forced Churchill into their shell for an extended period. It was only when Zvikomborero Masango came out swinging and raced to 30 from just 14 balls that Churchill ensured they didn’t suffer a three-figure defeat.
Wise Owl’s win over Churchill was their second of the day. They defeated their neighbours, Peterhouse, by 33 runs in their first outing on Saturday. In that game, Marshall Mashava led the way, scoring 48 off 35 balls, while Tatenda Chimugoro (24), Thelson Madziwana (21), and Tadiwanashe Kurehwatira (21) contributed 66 runs to the total.
Falcon College, the other side that made it to the playoffs, endured mixed fortunes. They won their first but lost their second match of the day.
In the morning, they thumped Hellenic Academy by seven wickets. Dmitry Fatch, Darren Ncube, Neil Rosenfels, and Liam Nel took a brace of wickets each as they restricted the Harare side to 157 all out in 19.2 overs.
Falcon skipper Alastair Carle, then, produced another brilliant innings at the top of the order, rocketing to 73 off just 46 balls to set the tone for an easy and comfortable run chase.
The opener tried to give his side another strong start when they were chasing a 190-run target set for them by Kearsney College, in their second match. Unfortunately for Falcon, Carle’s stay in the middle was shorter, although he was very effective in sprinting to 27 off 14 balls. The Bulawayo boys need more, though, and they came up 26 runs short of the mark.
The fourth playoff qualifier and defending champion, St John’s, headed into the second day with a clean record of two wins from two matches on Friday. However, they ran into an inspired Wade McQuinn and his Johannesburg Schools Invitational XI, who denied them a third win in a last over nail-biter.
Pilate Ndlovu did for Christian Brothers College – Bulawayo (CBC) what Shivaan Chouhan failed to do for St John’s. Ndlovu was handed the ball in the final over with three runs to defend against Prince Edward.
Junaid Nyawasha, Prince Edward’s number 10 batsman, was on a roll, batting with freedom, as he moved to 32 runs from 22 balls. He ran two off the first delivery of the 20th over, which left Prince Edward needing only a single run from five balls.
Ndlovu, though, struck with the second delivery of the over, trapping Nyawasha LBW to claim an improbable win for his side. He finished the match with one wicket for 26 runs from 3.2 overs.
However, the standout bowlers for CBC were Tawana Ratisai (4/9) and Takudzwa Maposa (3/30).
SCORES
Wise Owl 218/7 (Thelson Madziwana 67, Tadiwanashe Kurehwatira 47; Zvikomborero Masango 3/19, Wessly Maramwidze 3/23). Churchill 135/6 (Parise Dube 34, Takunda Rakabopwa 31, Zvikomborero Masango 30*; Tadiwanashe Kurehwatira 2/15, Tatenda Chimugoro 1/8). Wise Owl won by 83 runs.
Hellenic Academy 157/10 (Connor Duckworth 28, Kian Blignaut 27; Dmitry Fatch 2/18, Neil Rosenfels 2/24). Falcon College 158/3 (Alastair Carle 73, Brandon Ndiweni 39; Kirby Madaramete 1/29, Oliver Van Zyl 1/22). Falcon won by seven wickets.
Wise Owl 154/10 (Marshall Mashava 48, Tatenda Chimugoro 24; Luke Marillier 3/12, Cameron Oostuizen 2/14). Peterhouse 119/10 (Luke Marillier 35, Victor Watama 27; Panashe Mazai 2/18, Shane Kayemba 2/21). Wise Owl won by 33 runs.
Christian Brothers College 131/8 (Kelebokile Moyo 47, Joshua Armstrong 28; Takunda Garwe 3/19, Junaid Nyawasha 2/17). Prince Edward 130/10 (Junaid Nyawasha 34, Simbarashe Rombera 15; Tawana Ratisai 4/9, Takudzwa Maposa 3/30). CBC won by one run.
