Robin Uthappa’s blistering 88 not out helped the Harare Hurricanes to a comprehensive 9-wicket win over the Cape Town Swamp Army in the Eliminator of the inaugural edition of the Zim Afro T10 at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Also Read: Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan Shine With Bat as Harare Hurricanes Post Huge Total
The Cape Town Swamp Army batted first and got off to a terrific start, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Bhanuka Rajapaksa scoring at more than 10 runs per over. While Rajapaksa departed for a quick 25 off 11 deliveries in the third over, Gurbaz was on a roll.
The right-hander brought up his half-century in just 24 balls and looked set to take the game away from the Hurricanes. Gurbaz went on to amass an unbeaten 62 runs off just 26 balls to help his team reach a total of 146 in 10 overs.
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The Swamp Army posted a mammoth total of 145 in 10 overs. Nandre Burger was the pick of the bowlers for the Hurricanes, taking 2 wickets for 18 runs.
In reply, the Hurricanes got off to a flying start, with Uthappa and Evin Lewis putting in a 55-run crucial partnership for the first wicket in just 3.1 overs. Uthappa was in sublime form, hitting 8 fours and 6 sixes in his 88-run knock.
The Hurricanes reached their target with 9 wickets and 4 balls to spare, setting a new record for the highest successful chase in the tournament. Uthappa was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Uthappa’s inning was a reminder of his class and ability. He played some stunning shots, especially his sixes, which were all hit with power and precision. He also showed great maturity, rotating the strike with Ferreira and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
The Hurricanes’ victory was a complete team performance. They bowled well to restrict the Swamp Army to a good total and then batted with great fluency to chase down the target with ease.
