NANDRE Burger's 3 wickets for 12 runs helped Harare Hurricanes to a 2 run win over Joburg Buffaloes in the 10th match of the ongoing of the Zim Afro T10 competition at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
With the victory, Hurricanes put their campaign back on track as they moved to third on the table.
Chasing 107 for victory, Buffaloes lost Milton Shumba for a three ball duck to become Burger's first victim.
Tom Bantom didn't last long as he tried to take on Christopher Mpofu but could only manage to find Mohammad Nabi at deep midwicket.
Yousuf Pathan took the attack to the Hurricane bowlers and Brandon Mavuta on was on the receiving end.
Mavuta eventually got his revenge after he was hit for 16 runs, Pathan found Donovan Ferreira at long-on for 20 runs from 9 balls.
It was a battle of two sides anchoring the log with one win each from three games.
Just when a little Buffaloes partnership was starting to develop, Hurricanes continued to strike at regular intervals.
- Hurricanes' Afro T-10 campaign back on track
- Durban Qalanders lift inaugural Zim-Afro T10 Championship
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Former England international Ravi Bopara was fighting a lone battle for the Buffaloes.
With three overs to go, Buffaloes required 40 runs with 5 wickets in hand, Bopara in the middle, it was still anybody's game.
Nabi was pummeled for 16 runs in the next over, Buffaloes taking the match down to the wire.
However Burger couldn't have any of it as he took the wickets of Wessly Madhevere and Noor Ahmad to turn the match back into Hurricanes favour.
Bopara with an unbeaten 39 from 19 balls, almost won the game for Buffaloes but Nabi summoned all his experience and defended 18 runs in the final over.
Earlier Hurricanes had built their innings around Robin Uthappa's 31 from 20 balls.
Noor was the pick of the Buffaloes bowlers with figures of 2 for 20 runs and Mohammad Hafeez was the most economical bowler with his figure of 2 for 6 runs in his allotted two overs.
Monday's Matches
Joburg Buffaloes v Durban Qalanders 3pm
Cape Town Samp Army v Harare Hurricanes 5pm
Bulawayo Braves v Joburg Buffaloes 7pm.
