Harare-Chris Gayle was dismissed for a duck and conceded eight runs off his one over but Matabeleland Tuskers still beat Southern Rocks comfortably at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Tuskers' seamers Keegan Meth, Glen Querl and Tom Smith all took two wickets each in tight spells to keep Rocks to 114 for 8 in their 20 overs. Meth made the first incisions, striking twice in the fifth over to reduce Rocks to 24 for 2.
Smith then chipped in with wickets in the middle overs and the lack of partnerships made it difficult for Rocks to lift their scoring-rate. At 89 for 7 in the 18th over it looked like they would struggle to get past 100, but some quick runs from Hilary Matanga and Tafadzwa Kamungozi got them to 114.
Meth gave away just 13 runs in his four overs while Smith conceded 12. Tuskers needed just 16.1 overs to chase the target. Gayle was dismissed in the first over but that was the only wicket to fall as Smith and Paul Horton guided Tuskers home. Smith scored 63 off 56 balls to cap off an impressive all-round performance while Horton got 39 off 40.
