The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
DAYS after surpassing the 100-wicket mark in List A cricket, Tuskers senior player John Nyumbu bagged his first ever accolade in domestic cricket when he won the Bowler of the Tournament in the Pro50 Championship which concluded in Harare last Wednesday.
The accolade came with a cash prize of US$350. Nyumbu, an off-spin bowler finished the Pro50 Championship with 11 wickets in five matches with a brilliant average of 11.90 and economy rate of 3.26. He achieved his career best figures in List A cricket of five wickets for 21 runs in eight overs with two maidens as Tuskers defeated Eagles by 85 runs in the third-place playoff at Old Hararians Sports Club. It was his first ever five wicket-haul in List A cricket.
The 35-year old Nyumbu got the prize in absentia since the awards ceremony was held at Takashinga Cricket Club, the venue of the final between Rhinos and Southern Rocks. It is the second time that Nyumbu has finished as the leading wicket taker in any of the national domestic competition after he ended as the joint leading wicket taker in the Logan Cup with Mountaineers seamer Donald Tiripano on 34 wickets during the 2013/14 season.
He was the second leading wicket taker in the Logan Cup with 16 wickets, two behind Tendai Chisoro of Southern Rocks.
Nyumbu feels that his achievements for this season came as a result of the hard work he put in during the two lockdowns.
“It feels so surreal because it just put the icing on a project that began during the lockdown,’’ said Nyumbu.
Rhinos batsman, Takudzwanashe Kaitano took home the Pr050 Championship Player of the Tournament, which came with a cash prize of US$750.
Kaitano scored 122 in the final, a match Rhinos won by 47 runs to finish with a total of 247 runs in five innings, at an average of 49.40. The 27-year old opening batsman also won the Man of the Match for the final and got US$350 for being the Batsman of the Tournament. Rhinos received US$3 000 for winning the Pro50 Championship.
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