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Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Select missed a place in the semi-finals in the Africa Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament in South Africa when they finished third in their pool with three wins from four matches in Oudtshoorn over the weekend.

Zimbabwe Select finished third in Pool B where Gauteng were top and Northerns second.

Despite failing to make the semi-finals, this was by far Zimbabwe’s best display at the Africa Cup T20 as they had only recorded just one win since the start of the tournament in 2015.

Led by top order batsman Tarisai Musakanda, who was deputised by wicketkeeper Ryan Murray, Zimbabwe Select started off badly last Friday when they went down by seven wickets to Gauteng.

That was to be the only loss for the Zimbabweans in the competition as they went on to pick up three wins from as many matches.

In their second match on Friday, Zimbabwe Select defeated Free State by seven wickets.

After limiting Free State to 145 for five in 20 overs, Zimbabwe Select chased down the target with just three wickets down and 24 balls remaining.

Musakanda top scored with 38 not out while Murray was also unbeaten on 29.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe Select beat Northerns by six wickets.

Left-arm spinner Rugare Magarira and pace bowler Patrick Mlambo picked up two wickets apiece as Northerns posted 137 for six in 20 overs.

Musakanda stood out with the bat, top-scoring with an unbeaten 67 runs while Murray was second best with 46, Zimbabwe Select getting to their target with four balls to spare.

Zimbabwe Select picked up their third win in the tournament on Sunday with a five-wicket triumph over South Western Districts.

The South Africans scored 148 for five in 20 overs.

Murray was the highest run-scorer for Zimbabwe Select with 77 runs with Musakanda second best with an unbeaten 56.

Musakanda is part of Zimbabwe’s squad for the Twenty20 International matches against South Africa.

Murray is in the team for the One Day International fixtures against the Proteas.

With the Chevrons heading off to South Africa next week to play three ODIs and the same number of T20Is, coach Lalchand Rajput must have been impressed with the way the two played in the Africa Cup T20 competition.