Moor, Masvaure centuries lift Rhinos to big total

Rhinos – 413 all out in 109.3 overs (PJ Moor 139, Prince Masvaure 127, Tendai Chisoro 28*; Sheunopa Musekwa 5/113, Ernest Masuku 3/108, Ainsley Ndlovu 2/63)

Tuskers – 17-0 in 4.4 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 10*, Taffy Mupariwa 5)

Stumps – Day 2: Tuskers trail by 396 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings

PJ Moor and Prince Masvaure continued their fine work for Rhinos at Harare Sports Club on Friday as their centuries led their side to a big first-innings total of over 400 against Tuskers on the second day of their Logan Cup match.

By the close the Tuskers opening batsmen had at least kept their wickets intact as they finished on 17 for no loss.

Rhinos resumed in the morning at their overnight score of 140 for two wickets, with Masvaure on 44 and Moor 42, under partly cloudy skies with no rain imminent.

The two batsmen began with the same determination they had shown on the first day, and so intent were they that no run came from the bat until the fourth over, when Moor cracked a ball from Sheunopa Musekwa through the covers for four.

Moor was first to his fifty, slashing a widish ball from Ernest Masuku to the cover boundary, off 108 balls, and followed it immediately with a cut for four to third man.

Masvaure soon followed, off 124 balls, but the pair just put their heads down again to steady accumulation, and the 200 was reached just before morning drinks.

Moor had been very disappointed to be out in the nineties in his previous match, against Eagles, and he was as determined as he could be to reach the century this time.

On 92 he received a short ball from Ainsley Ndlovu that he pulled for six, and repeated the shot two balls later to bring up three figures, off 158 balls.

The first six had brought up the 200 partnership; Masvaure at this stage was on 81.

Lunch was approaching, but Masvaure seemed to be aiming to reach his own century before the interval.

He speeded up his scoring safely and successfully, and as Musekwa bowled the penultimate over before lunch he drove the ball perfectly through the covers for four to reach his landmark off 216 balls.

Rhinos were riding high at lunch time on 269 for two wickets, with Moor on 110 and Masvaure 100.

The pitch was quicker and better for batting than it had been on the first day, but the outfield was heavy, making scoring a little more difficult.

The Tuskers bowlers toiled hard but without inspiration, with Masuku being perhaps the best.

Chris Mpofu still caused the batsmen problems at times, but was not at his consistent best.

After lunch both batsmen realised the urgency of scoring quickly now, especially with the threat of rain.

Moor was the more aggressive of the two, but both had a couple of narrow escapes from being caught.

At 1.45pm there was a sudden heavy shower, with the score at 304 for two now, Moor having 130 and Masvaure 115.

It did not last long, but by the time play was able to start again 40 minutes had been lost.

The batsmen had been rather handicapped before by a slow outfield, and the rain had slowed it down even more.

Finally the stand of 289 runs came to an end, as Musekwa bowled a short faster ball to Moor, and it brushed his gloves on the way through to the keeper.

He had batted superbly for his innings of 139, which came off 225 balls and contained 14 fours and three sixes.

Remembrance Nyathi came in next, after a very long wait and a long time out of the side.

He managed a single off 21 balls before suddenly he cracked a ball from Musekwa through the covers for a superb four.

But this was deceptive, as two balls later he chopped an excellent yorker on to his stumps and was out for five; 337 for four.

Nyasha Mayavo played a confident cover drive for three, but was then caught in the slips off Masuku, at 340 for five.

Neville Madziva came in next, and scored a single and a six off the first two deliveries he faced.

When tea came, he had scored 21 runs off 12 balls, including 18 in an over from Musekwa, and the total was 363 for five wickets, with Masvaure now on 127.

Masvaure fell immediately after tea, though, without addition to the score, edging Musekwa to the wicketkeeper.

His fine innings lasted 276 balls, and he hit eight fours, hampered by the slow outfield.

Rhinos’ aim now was to reach a score of 400, which would earn them an extra bonus point.

Madziva did little more, though, and was trapped lbw to Ndlovu for 23.

Musekwa then took his fifth wicket of the innings as Brandon Mavuta (3) slashed a catch to third slip at 376 for eight.

Carl Mumba (6) holed out at long-on off Ndlovu at 383, which brought in the last man Mike Chinouya to join Tendai Chisoro, who was making a spirited effort at the 400.

They did their job, Chinouya holding his end up while Chisoro, a much underestimated batsman, not least by himself, scored most of the runs with a few powerful hits and some skilful dabs.

They continued to bat without a declaration, and Chinouya even had the temerity to pull Mpofu for a handsome four.

The innings came to an end at 413, though, as Masuku bowled Chinouya out for nine, his first runs of the season; Chisoro finished with a valuable 28 not out.

Musekwa, who bowled very well at times but still needs more consistency, took five wickets for 113 runs, while Masuku took three and Ndlovu two.

Unexpectedly the rain had kept away and the sun was now shining, though there were still black clouds in the distance.

Nkosana Mpofu opened defiantly for Tuskers in reply, driving Madziva’s first ball straight back past him for a perfectly hit boundary.

Most of the rest was just survival for him and Taffy Mupariwa, though, and they successfully saw out the day to score 17 runs before play was halted owing to bad light.

Tuskers have a long haul in front of them tomorrow, while Rhinos will be desperate to press for a vital victory in their final Logan Cup match.

2018/19 Logan Cup points table

Subscribe to Blog via Email