Mimbulu stun Zimbabwean cricket team
Limbe Mimbulu Cricket Team on Sunday stunned Zimbabwean military outfit White Rhinos with a four-run beating in a 20 overs clash at The Cricket Academy (TCA) Oval in Blantyre.
This was a relief for the country as the result came hours after another Malawian side Chilomoni Chiefs lost by 67 runs to the Zimbabwean giants.
Rhinos are on a week-long tour of Malawi and are expected to play five friendly matches against local teams.
They will be up against Ndirande Highlanders from 10am today before playing two matches against the Cricket Academy Malawi Dragons tomorrow.
On Sunday, Mimbulu batted first to make a total of 93 runs with a loss of seven wickets in 20 overs before confining the visitors to 89 runs all-out in 16.4 overs.
Batsman Samson Komiha and bowler Bernard Kapalamula were instrumental in Mimbulu’s victory. Komiha top scored with 27 runs out of 22 balls while Kapalamula claimed four wickets in 2.4 overs after conceding 12 runs.
Rhinos’ Damiso Tawanda Jnr made 25 runs in 26 balls whereas Allen Mhuka took three wickets in four overs and conceded 11 runs, but their individual brilliance could not save the visitors from the jaws of defeat.
“It really feels great to beat a team from Zimbabwe, which is ranked among the top cricket nations in the world,” said Kapalamula said.
In an earlier match, Rhinos made 138 runs in the entire 20 overs against Chiefs, who were restricted to 71 all-out in 18 overs.
Mhuka was once again outstanding for Rhinos after he claimed four runs in four overs and conceded four runs. Reuben Bango contributed 34 runs in 25 balls.
On the other hand, Chiefs had Gift Kansonkho and Suleman Ibrahim as their outstanding cricketers. Kansonkho made 24 runs in 27 balls as Ibrahim claimed two wickets in four overs.
Rhino’s team chairperson Tendai Makuyana said they were complacent against Mimbulu.
“For the second game, we let our guard down a bit. We should have finished the game but we got complacent as we were caught napping,” she said.
