Rhinos – 172-6 in 20 overs (Ben Curran 48, Maaz Khan 23*, Tashinga Musekiwa 20; Petros Sithole 2/19, Ernest Masuku 2/45, Ali Khan 1/17)
Tuskers – 154-7 in 20 overs (Milton Shumba 70, Tawanda Maposa 15, Tafara Mupariwa 12; Graeme Cremer 3/28, Muhammad Khwaja 2/21, Victor Chirwa 1/7)
Rhinos won by 18 runs
An authoritative innings from Ben Curran proved decisive as defending champions Rhinos booked their place in the final of the 2025/26 Domestic T20 Competition with an 18-run victory over Tuskers at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday morning.
The remainder of the top order struggled for momentum, with none of the other frontline batters able to push on beyond 20.
Opener Antum Naqvi and Tashinga Musekiwa both reached that mark, Musekiwa doing so from just 13 deliveries.
Rhinos were boosted late by a productive seventh-wicket partnership between Graeme Cremer and Maaz Khan, who added a vital 32 runs from the final 14 balls to lift the total to a competitive 172 for six.
Khan showcased his power-hitting with an unbeaten 23 off 10 balls, including two towering sixes.
Petrus Sithole was the standout bowler for Tuskers, claiming both openers in a tidy three-over spell that conceded just 19 runs.
In reply, Tuskers made a shrewd call by promoting Milton Shumba to open the batting, and the move nearly paid off.
Shumba carried the chase with a resolute 70 off 58 balls, striking two sixes and four fours as he anchored the innings almost single-handedly.
However, support was sorely lacking at the other end.
Tawanda Maposa, who managed 15, was the best partner he could find as wickets fell steadily around him.
The decisive moment came with the very first ball of the final over when Shumba was caught off Muhammad Khwaja, leaving Tuskers needing an improbable 27 runs.
From there, Rhinos closed out the contest to secure their place in Sunday’s final.
Cremer led the bowling effort with figures of three for 28, removing key middle-order batters to keep the chase firmly under control.
Eagles – 120 all out in 16.1 overs (Faraz Akram 46, Tony Munyonga 23, Wessly Madhevere 15; Newman Nyamhuri 4/9, Jalat Khan 4/19, Arineshto Vezha 1/14)
Southern Rocks – 102 all out in 18.4 overs (Johnathan Campbell 25, Lennox Chando 16, Jalat Khan 14; Wessly Madhevere 2/22, Faraz Akram 1/0, Tapiwa Mufudza 1/13)
Eagles won by 18 runs
Eagles produced a spirited performance to defend a modest total and edge Southern Rocks by 18 runs in the afternoon match at Kwekwe Sports Club, sealing their place in the Domestic T20 Competition final.
Despite an outstanding bowling display from Newman Nyamhuri and Jalat Khan, Rocks were unable to capitalise, falling short in the final round-robin fixture of the tournament.
Put in to bat, Eagles found themselves in deep trouble early, collapsing to 42 for five as Khan and Nyamhuri shared the top-order damage with two wickets apiece.
With Eagles staring at a sub-par total, Tony Munyonga and Faraz Akram mounted a crucial recovery, counter-attacking with intent to add 64 runs for the sixth wicket in just seven overs.
Munyonga contributed 23, while Akram top-scored with a fluent 46, lifting Eagles to 106 for five and briefly shifting the momentum.
However, the return of Khan and Nyamhuri stemmed the recovery, and Eagles were bowled out for 120.
Khan finished with impressive figures of four for 19, while Nyamhuri was even more economical, conceding just nine runs in his spell.
Chasing what appeared a straightforward target to secure second place on the points table and a final berth, Rocks instead produced a disappointing batting display and were dismissed for 102 in 18.4 overs.
Only Johnathan Campbell, with 25, and Lennox Chando, who made 16, offered resistance, before last man Khan struck a brisk 14 to lift the total into three figures.
The innings was further undermined by three costly run-outs, reflecting the mounting pressure.
Wessly Madhevere provided the finishing touches for Eagles, claiming the final two wickets as Rocks’ chase fizzled out and Eagles celebrated a memorable, hard-earned victory.
2025/26 DOMESTIC T20 COMPETITION POINTS TABLE
| TEAM | M | W | L | T | NR | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinos | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 1.610 |
| Eagles | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 1.387 |
| Southern Rocks | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.001 |
| Tuskers | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -1.176 |
| Mountaineers | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -1.455 |
