NEW: A good day for Zimbabwe at the African Games

Online Reporter

TEAM Zimbabwe put themselves in medal contention, as the senior men’s cricket team and the Lock brothers – Benjamin and Courtney – registered big wins at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday night.

Owen Muzondo’s three wickets helped secure a 10-wicket victory over Nigeria to send the Chevrons into the semi-finals.

The West Africans won the toss, with skipper Sylvester Okper opting to bat first.

However, that decision soon backfired as the Chevrons dismissed Nigeria for a paltry 88 runs.

Muzondo led the charge with three wickets, during which he claimed the scalps of skipper Okper (12) and bowled out lower batters Prosper Useni (0) and Sesan Adedeji (2).

Nigeria failed to find a response to Zimbabwe’s bowling effort, as only four batters managed to reach double figures — Sulaimon Runsewe (13), Isaac Danladi (15), Okper (12) and Vincent Adewoye (19), who finished the innings unbeaten.

Also, five of the West African batters were clean bowled.

Zimbabwe made light work of the target, as the duo of openers Rodney Mufudza (39) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (47) saw the Chevrons race to 91 runs for no loss inside 16 overs.

The Chevrons meet Kenya in the second semi-final of the tournament, with the other semi-final pitting Namibia against Uganda on Thursday.

The winners of the two matches will then advance to Saturday’s final.

In other results, the Lock brothers registered big wins in the semi-finals of the men’s singles and doubles.

Benjamin Lock beat Mohamed Aziz Dougaz of Tunisia 6-3, 3-6 and 7-5 to advance to the men’s singles finals.

He then teamed up with his younger brother Courtney to beat Moez Echargui and Mohamed Aziz Ouakaa of Tunisia 7-6, 6-7 and 11-9 to book their place in the men’s doubles finals.

In rugby, the Cheetahs beat Tunisia 36-7 and maintained fourth position in the men Sevens’ rugby competition.

Also, Ashley Kamangirira won Zimbabwe’s third bronze medal of the competition when she finished third in the women’s 100 metres hurdles with a time of 13.59 seconds.

Kamangirira’s podium finish takes Zimbabwe’s total tally to six medals, which include two gold, a silver and three bronze.