Harare, July 25, 2023: The Harare Hurricanes defeated the Cape Town Samp Army at the Harare Sports Club thanks to a Super Over after displaying steely nerves throughout the game. Mohammad Nabi and Donovan Ferreira held their composure to bat out a vital victory in the Super Over after the Hurricanes forced S Sreesanth to defend 8 runs in the last over to force extra innings.
The Harare Hurricanes, who were given the opportunity to bat first, could not get off to the start they had hoped for.
Sheldon Cottrell dismissed Regis Chakabva (0), Robin Uthappa (0), and Evin Lewis (3) in the first over, and they all fell in the third.
At the opposite end,Donovan Ferreira aimed to keep the scoreboard updated despite the wickets continuing to fall. Ferreira kept adding runs from his end, but Eoin Morgan (3), Mohammad Nabi (4), and Samit Patel (1) were the next to leave.
Ferriera quickly reached his half-century, while Luke Jongwe provided assistance in the innings’ second half. Ferreira did the majority of the work during the pair’s subsequent 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket. With eight sixes and six boundaries struck throughout his 33-ball time in the middle, he finished undefeated on 87. His power-hitting skills allowed him to smash five sixes in the penultimate over. This contributed to the Hurricanes’ eventual 115–6 victory.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Tadiwanashe Marumani
Opened for the Samp Army in response, putting on a quick-fire 32-run opening stand. Both hitters had played well in the tournament, but Marumani was the first to be struck out for 10 and was replaced by Gurbaz and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
Gurbaz kept the audience entertained with a barrage of huge shots, hitting six maximums and piercing the field to pick up a few boundaries. Gurbaz was, however, eliminated by Samit Patel for 56 after he achieved his half-century and the partnership with Rajapaksa reached 58.
Then, while Karim Janat, who was in fine form, attacked the Hurricanes’ bowling, Rajapaksa held up one end. S Sreesanth struck with his first ball to dismiss Janat for 16 after Rajapaksa was bowled for 9 by Mohammad Nabi in the last over.
The game went to a Super over since the scores were level after the penultimate delivery. In the dramatic final over, Sreesanth also successfully ran out Sean Williams with a magnificent piece of fielding. Sreesanth played in the event for the first time today.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Karim Janat started the Samp Army’s Super Over, but Gurbaz was disqualified for a duck while attempting to attack by Nandre Burger off the second delivery. But Janat and Matthew Breetzke scored six more, requiring the Hurricanes to make a comeback of eight to win.
The Hurricanes got things going thanks to Donovan Ferreira and Mohammad Nabi, who also gave them the nerve to eventually chase down the 8 runs without losing a wicket.
Short Scores –
115/6 (Donovan Ferreira 87*, Luke Jongwe 10*, Sheldon Cottrell 3/2, Richard Ngarava 2/26); Harare Hurricanes 115/4 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 56, Karim Janat 16; Samit Patel 2/23, Sreesanth 1/5) was the score versus Cape Town Samp Army.
After Super –
Cape Town Samp Army was defeated by Harare Hurricanes – 8/0 (Mohammad Nabi – 4*, Donovan Ferreira – 2*; Peter Hatzoglou – 0/8) with a score of 7/1 (Karim Janat – 5*, Matthew Breetzke – 1, Nandre Burger – 1/7).