HARARE - Mashonaland Eagles successfully defended their Pro50 Championship title after beating rivals Matabeleland Tuskers by five runs on the Duckworth Lewis yesterday in a rain-affected final here in Bulawayo.

Eagles had looked set to relinquish their title after opening bowler Keegan Meth, with three wickets, and a brace each from seamer Chris Mpofu and spinner John Nyumbu, saw the visitors from Harare bow out for a modest total of 222 inside 49 overs.

The hosts then chased down the small total with gusto and reached 138 runs without losing a wicket as openers Gavin Ewing (94) and Brian Chari (47) gave the Bulawayo franchise a solid start before the mid-order slide.

But Eagles’ bowlers turned the game on its head with a spell of brilliant bowling, led by experienced spinner Prosper Utseya, who claimed 3-41.

All-rounder Nathan Waller took a brace of wickets while opening bowlers Taurai Mzarabani and Innocent Chinyoka, as well as emerging spinner Tino Mutombodzi, took a wicket each before rain stopped play with Tuskers in all sorts of trouble on 203-8 from 47.5 overs. - Sports Writer