Tuskers – 202 all out in 45.2 overs ( Ernest Masuku 67, Charles Kunje 31, Craig Ervine 31; Patrick Mambo 2/36, Daniel Jakiel 2/41, Tino Mutombodzi 1/27)
Eagles – 203-8 in 46.1 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 73, Regis Chakabva 38*, Richmond Mutumbami 23; Ainsley Ndlovu 3/23, John Nyumbu 1/21, Sean Williams 1/29)
Eagles are Zimbabwe’s national one-day champions after the cool head of Regis Chakabva, 38 not out, saw them through to a narrow two-wicket victory over Tuskers in the Pro50 Championship final played at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
After an hour and a half of play the match seemed as good as over, with Tuskers floundering at 102 for six wickets with all their specialist batsmen gone.
Then Ernest Masuku came through for them with a superb fighting innings of 67 which did most to take their total past 200.
This never looked sufficient for victory, though, until Ainsley Ndlovu took three quick wickets in the middle order and Eagles suddenly found themselves struggling at 155 for seven wickets.
That was when Chakabva, helped mainly by Tapiwa Mufudza and at the death by Daniel Jakiel, took over and saw his team home to a tension-filled victory.