2017–18 Pro50 Championship

2017–18 Pro50 Championship

Dates	1 December 2017 – 2 June 2018
Administrator(s)	Zimbabwe Cricket
Cricket format	List A cricket
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin and Final
Champions	Rising Stars (1st title)
Participants	5
Matches	21
Player of the series	Tony Munyonga
Most runs	Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (379)
Most wickets	Natsai Mushangwe (17)

The 2017–18 Pro50 Championship was the sixteenth edition of the Pro50 Championship, a List A cricket tournament that was played in Zimbabwe. The tournament included a new team, the Rising Stars, along with the existing four teams.^[1] Matabeleland Tuskers were the defending champions.^[2]

The competition was originally scheduled to run from 1 December 2017 to 31 March 2018.^[1] However, in December 2017, Zimbabwe Cricket postponed all the remaining fixtures scheduled to take place in the tournament.^[3] Zimbabwe Cricket were struggling to pay players' salaries for November and December and wanted to upgrade their facilities for the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which took place in Zimbabwe in March 2018.^[3] Initially, the tournament did not resume after the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, with only the first round of fixtures taking place.^[4] However, in April 2018, Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed that the tournament would restart, with the remaining rounds of the competition to be played during April, May and June 2018.^[5][6][7] After a gap of more than four months, the second round of fixtures resumed on 17 April 2018.^[8][9]

Following the conclusion of the penultimate round of fixtures, both Rising Stars and Mountaineers advanced to the final, after the defending champions, Matabeleland Tuskers, failed to secure a bonus point with their victory over Mountaineers.^[10] In the final, Rising Stars beat Mountaineers by 144 runs to win their first title.^[11]

Points table

The following teams competed in the tournament:

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	NR	BP	Pts	NRR
1	Rising Stars	8	5	2	0	1	3	25	0.950
2	Mountaineers	8	4	3	0	1	3	21	0.284
3	Matabeleland Tuskers	8	4	3	0	1	2	20	0.083
4	Mashonaland Eagles	8	3	5	0	0	0	12	−0.615
5	Mid West Rhinos	8	2	5	0	1	1	11	−0.558

Source: ^[12]

  Advanced to the final

Fixtures

Round 1

1 December 2017 Scorecard

Mid West Rhinos 283/7 (50 overs)	v	Mashonaland Eagles 287/5 (48.2 overs)
Brendan Taylor 110 (101) Liam Roche 3/43 (7 overs)		Chamu Chibhabha 64 (82) Tendai Chisoro 2/36 (10 overs)

Mashonaland Eagles won by 5 wickets Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Sifelani Rwaziyeni and Russell Tiffin

• Mid West Rhinos won the toss and elected to bat.
• Liam Roche (Mashonaland Eagles) and Trevor Gwandu (Mid West Rhinos) both made their List A debuts.

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1 December 2017 Scorecard

Matabeleland Tuskers 169 (44.1 overs)	v	Mountaineers 170/5 (33.4 overs)
Richmond Mutumbami 38 (51) Wellington Masakadza 3/25 (10 overs)		Vusi Sibanda 87* (90) John Nyumbu 2/22 (6 overs)

Mountaineers won by 5 wickets Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Umpires: Jeremiah Matibiri and Christopher Phiri

• Matabeleland Tuskers won the toss and elected to bat.
• Mohammad Eqlakh (Mountaineers) made his List A debut.

Round 2

17 April 2018 Scorecard

Mountaineers 226 (47.4 overs)	v	Mid West Rhinos 122 (35 overs)
Hamilton Masakadza 61 (81) Tendai Chisoro 2/32 (10 overs)		Nyasha Mayavo 44 (49) Natsai M'shangwe 3/16 (6 overs)

Mountaineers won by 104 runs Mutare Sports Club, Mutare Umpires: Jeremiah Matibiri and Ashby Mutumbami

• Mountaineers won the toss and elected to bat.
• Jabulisa Tshuma (Mid West Rhinos) made his List A debut.

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17 April 2018 Scorecard

Rising Stars 276/8 (50 overs)	v	Mashonaland Eagles 273/6 (46.3 overs)
Tony Munyonga 74 (88) Brighton Zhawi 2/34 (8 overs)		Tinotenda Mutombodzi 67 (89) Richard Ngarava 2/42 (5.4 overs)

Mashonaland Eagles won by 28 runs (D/L method) Takashinga Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Langton Rusere and Iknow Chabi

• Mashonaland Eagles won the toss and elected to field.
• Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Tony Munyonga, Thamsanqa Keith Nunu, Faraz Akram and Patrick Mambo (Rising Stars) all made their List A debuts.

Round 3

29 April 2018 Scorecard

Mid West Rhinos 218 (48.4 overs)	v	Rising Stars 220/5 (44.3 overs)
Bothwell Chapungu 85 (94) Tinashe Muchawaya 4/31 (6.4 overs)		Tarisai Musakanda 50* (65) Trevor Chibvongodze 2/49 (10 overs)

Rising Stars won by 5 wickets Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Walter Musakwa and Russell Tiffin

• Rising Stars won the toss and elected to field.
• Tinashe Muchawaya, Honest Ziwira, Rugare Magarira (Rising Stars) and Trevor Chibvongodze (Mid West Rhinos) all made their List A debuts.

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30 April 2018 Scorecard

Matabeleland Tuskers 236/7 (50 overs)	v	Mashonaland Eagles 116 (38.1 overs)
Nkosana Mpofu 49 (88) Brighton Zhawi 3/44 (8 overs)		Joylord Gumbie 42 (67) Chris Mpofu 3/15 (7 overs)

Matabeleland Tuskers won by 120 runs Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Umpires: Christopher Phiri and Lucky Ngwenya

• Mashonaland Eagles won the toss and elected to field.
• Larvet Masunda and Brendon Timoni (Mashonaland Eagles) both made their List A debuts.

Round 4

11 May 2018 Scorecard

Mid West Rhinos 193 (47 overs)	v	Matabeleland Tuskers 194/5 (30.5 overs)
Nyasha Mayavo 49 (72) Brian Vitori 3/31 (9 overs)		Richmond Mutumbami 90 (64) Michael Chinouya 4/48 (8.5 overs)

Matabeleland Tuskers won by 5 wickets Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Umpires: Jeremiah Matibiri and Lucky Ngwenya

• Mid West Rhinos won the toss and elected to bat.

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11 May 2018 Scorecard

Mountaineers 126 (40 overs)	v	Rising Stars 127/1 (26.4 overs)
Tinashe Chimbambo 46 (71) Tony Munyonga 4/9 (8 overs)		Tafadzwa Tsiga 48* (76) Tendai Chatara 1/17 (6 overs)

Rising Stars won by 9 wickets Takashinga Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Russell Tiffin and Iknow Chabi

• Rising Stars won the toss and elected to field.
• Ngoni Mupamba (Mountaineers) made his List A debut.

Round 5

22 May 2018 Scorecard

Rising Stars 214 (40.2 overs)	v	Matabeleland Tuskers 215/4 (45.5 overs)
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 47 (17) Ernest Masuku 5/50 (10 overs)		Brian Chari 79 (102) Tinashe Muchawaya 2/37 (5 overs)

Matabeleland Tuskers won by 6 wickets Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Percival Sizara and Russell Tiffin

• Matabeleland Tuskers won the toss and elected to field.
• Allan Chigoma (Matabeleland Tuskers) made his List A debut.

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22 May 2018 Scorecard

Mashonaland Eagles 116 (36.3 overs)	v	Mountaineers 117/2 (25.2 overs)
Liam Roche 44* (59) Victor Nyauchi 3/39 (7.3 overs)		Hamilton Masakadza 53* (62) Tanyaradzwa Munyaradzi 1/18 (8 overs)

Mountaineers won by 8 wickets Old Hararians, Harare Umpires: Jeremiah Matibiri and Tafadzwa Musakwa

• Mountaineers won the toss and elected to field.
• Zaheer Muhammad (Mashonaland Eagles) made his List A debut.

Round 6

23 May 2018 Scorecard

Mashonaland Eagles 212/9 (50 overs)	v	Matabeleland Tuskers 196 (45.1 overs)
Elton Chigumbura 75 (92) John Nyumbu 3/29 (10 overs)		Chris Mpofu 41 (84) Tapiwa Mufudza 3/25 (10 overs)

Mashonaland Eagles won by 16 runs Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Iknow Chabi and Percival Sizara

• Matabeleland Tuskers won the toss and elected to field.

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23 May 2018 Scorecard

Rising Stars 207 (46.4 overs)	v	Mid West Rhinos 141 (30.5 overs)
Ryan Burl 59 (79) Tendai Chisoro 5/30 (9.4 overs)		Nyasha Mayavo 55 (59) Patrick Mambo 4/34 (7.5 overs)

Rising Stars won by 66 runs Old Hararians, Harare Umpires: Russell Tiffin and Walter Musakwa

• Mid West Rhinos won the toss and elected to field.
• Takudzwanashe Kaitano (Mid West Rhinos) made his List A debut.

Round 7

25 May 2018 Scorecard

Matabeleland Tuskers 114 (19.5 overs)	v	Rising Stars 115/2 (20 overs)
Brian Chari 29 (17) Rugare Magarira 7/19 (6.5 overs)		Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 58 (41) John Nyumbu 1/7 (3 overs)

Rising Stars won by 8 wickets Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Stanley Gogwe and Langton Rusere

• Matabeleland Tuskers won the toss and elected to bat.

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25 May 2018 Scorecard

Mashonaland Eagles 186 (44.1 overs)	v	Mountaineers 180/6 (43.5 overs)
Chamu Chibhabha 60 (100) Natsai M'shangwe 4/44 (10 overs)		Hamilton Masakadza 65* (103) Brighton Zhawi 2/39 (8.5 overs)

Mountaineers won by 27 runs (D/L method) Old Hararians, Harare Umpires: Iknow Chabi and Jeremiah Matibiri

• Mashonaland Eagles won the toss and elected to bat.

Round 8

27 May 2018 Scorecard

Matabeleland Tuskers 39/4 (11.5 overs)	v	Mid West Rhinos
Nkosana Mpofu 15 (19) Tendai Chisoro 2/10 (3 overs)

No result Old Hararians, Harare Umpires: Walter Musakwa and Josphat Mutapure

• Matabeleland Tuskers won the toss and elected to bat.
• The match was called off due to an unsafe pitch.^[13]

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27 May 2018 Scorecard

Mountaineers 241 (47 overs)	v	Rising Stars 101/3 (15.4 overs)
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 128 (98) Natsai M'shangwe 3/43 (10 overs)		Hamilton Masakadza 60* (39) Faraz Akram 2/26 (4 overs)

No result Takashinga Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Tafadzwa Musakwa and Stanley Gogwe

• Mountaineers won the toss and elected to field.

Round 9

28 May 2018 Scorecard

Mid West Rhinos 217/8 (50 overs)	v	Mashonaland Eagles 208 (38.3 overs)
Neville Madziva 52* (71) Donald Samunderu 3/32 (10 overs)		Neville Madziva 52* (71) Donald Samunderu 3/32 (10 overs)

Mid West Rhinos won by 9 runs Takashinga Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Walter Musakwa and Percival Sizara

• Mashonaland Eagles won the toss and elected to field.

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28 May 2018 Scorecard

Matabeleland Tuskers 275/9 (50 overs)	v	Mountaineers 222/6 (46 overs)
Brian Chari 125 (142) Victor Nyauchi 4/76 (10 overs)		Kevin Kasuza 113 (136) Ainsley Ndlovu 2/42 (10 overs)

Matabeleland Tuskers won by 18 runs (D/L method) Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Josphat Mutapure and Stanley Gogwe

• Mountaineers won the toss and elected to field.
• Baxon Gopito (Mountaineers) made his List A debut.

Round 10

30 May 2018 Scorecard

Mid West Rhinos 269/7 (50 overs)	v	Mountaineers 173 (38.2 overs)
Prince Masvaure 83 (107) Travor Mutsamba 3/34 (8 overs)		Tino Mawoyo 36 (38) Michael Chinouya 3/33 (8 overs)

Mid West Rhinos won by 96 runs Takashinga Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Stanley Gogwe and Walter Musakwa

• Mountaineers won the toss and elected to field.
• Travor Mutsamba (Mountaineers) made his List A debut.

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30 May 2018 Scorecard

Rising Stars 257/9 (50 overs)	v	Mashonaland Eagles 236 (49.1 overs)
Faraz Akram 66 (109) Kudakwashe Munyede 2/30 (7 overs)		Elton Chigumbura 65 (94) Tinashe Muchawaya 3/47 (9.1 overs)

Rising Stars won by 21 runs Old Hararians, Harare Umpires: Tafadzwa Musakwa and Josphat Mutapure

• Rising Stars won the toss and elected to bat.

Final

2 June 2018 Scorecard

Rising Stars 281/9 (50 overs)	v	Mountaineers 137 (30.1 overs)
Tony Munyonga 65 (55) Donald Tiripano 6/55 (8 overs)		Hamilton Masakadza 50 (70) Brandon Mavuta 8/38 (8.1 overs)

Rising Stars won by 144 runs Harare Sports Club, Harare Umpires: Russell Tiffin and Langton Rusere

• Mountaineers won the toss and elected to field.

References

1. "Harare-based Rising Stars added to Zimbabwe domestic set-up". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
2. "Champions Tuskers descend on Harare". Daily News. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
3. "ZC postpones domestic cricket amid cash shortage". ESPN Cricinfo. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
4. "Calling me a racist is preposterous and laughable - Streak". ESPN Cricinfo. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
5. "T20 Back Up In Place: ZC". Chronicle. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
6. "Zimbabwe: ZC Can Cope Without Streak, Says Makoni". All Africa. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
7. "Zimbabwe: Streak Saga Rages On". All Africa. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
8. "Eagles edge Stars in closely fought encounter". Wisden India. 17 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
9. "Domestic cricket league returns, but..." NewsDay. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
10. "Tuskers win but Mountaineers, Stars to meet in final". Wisden India. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
11. "Rising Stars topple Mountaineers to clinch Pro50 Championship". 3-Mob. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
12. "Pro50 Championship Table – 2017–18". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
13. "Pro50: Tuskers, Rhinos match abandoned due to dangerous pitch". 3 Mob. Retrieved 28 May 2018.

External links

• Series home at ESPN Cricinfo