The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
Sikandar Raza’s imperious century powered Mashonaland Eagles to a 104 run drubbing of Southern Rocks in a Pro 5o Championship match at Harare Sports Club yesterday. The attacking blasted his 130 off 89 balls and was also involved in two big partnerships which propelled Eagles to an imposing 298-7.
A collective effort from the Eagles bowlers with spinners Brighton Mugochi 3 /20 and skipper Tinotenda Mutombodzi 3 /30 doing much of the damage ensured Rocks’ brisk start faltered in the big chase despite Luke Jongwe’s spirited 52.
The centurion said: “My head was clear, all the thinking I had to do I did in the nets, I struggled with the national team and so I came here I had good starts because I went back to the nets.
“This was for my father, when I don’t score he feels the pressure as well.”
I think he gets more under pressure than me at times, so this is definitely for him. I was praying to God that I need an inning like that so that my father could be lifted up.”
Raza came in with his side wobbling following a frugal opening spell from Tinashe Panyangara and Trevor Garwe that reduced the batting side to 53-2 after 14 overs.
With Nick Welch for company, they added 53 before the youngster injudiciously pocked at one that kissed his edge into the keeper’s glove.
The union of Raza and Chakabva 32(42) accrued 107 runs with the pair showing sound judgment in attacking and rotating the strike on a good batting track that Raza blasted 12 fours and four sixes in his exciting innings.
The lower order batsman did well to push the score that Rocks threatened to reach after a blistering start in their chase, getting aid from some lose ball from the pacemen.
Flying high at more than seven runs per over, Rocks were in the game not until skipper Mutombodzi changed his attack that saw rocks crumble from 39-1 to 87- 4 to 129- 6.
The two teams clash in the Logan Cup match starting this morning at the same venue, it is a different format but Rocks will need a better performance with the bat.
