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Mountaineers – 230 all out in 67.4 overs (William Mashinge 60, Kevin Kasuza 35, Wellington Masakadza 27; Carl Mumba 5/51, Tendai Chisoro 3/54, Tafara Chingwara 1/30)
Rhinos – 75-5 in 17 overs (PJ Moor 13, Takudzwa Kaitano 12, Remembrance Nyathi 12*; Donald Tiripano 2/24, Victor Nyauchi 1/9, Tendai Chatara 1/9)
Day 1 – Stumps: Rhinos trail by 155 runs with five wickets remaining in the first innings
William Mashinge again showed he is increasing his stature in Zimbabwe cricket by playing another rescue innings for the Logan Cup champions, Mountaineers, in their match with Rhinos at Takashinga Sports Club on Wednesday.
Mountaineers, who batted first on winning the toss, found themselves in deep trouble at 90 for six wickets in the face of some hostile fast bowling from Carl Mumba.
But as in their match against Tuskers last week, Mashinge stood firm, scoring 60 runs — actually his first fifty in first-class cricket — and received enough support from Donald Tiripano and, again, Wellington Masakadza to boost the score to 230 all out.
This is not a great total, but it looked a good one by close of play, when the Rhinos top order failed, five wickets going down for only 75 runs, leaving Mountaineers with a clear advantage going into the second day.
Mountaineers were without the injured Tino Mawoyo, so Joylord Gumbie opened the batting with Kevin Kasuza.
Gumbie did not last long, however, as he was soon caught at the wicket off Mumba for two.
The Rhinos pacemen followed this up by dismissing Roy Kaia in the same way for 11, and then having the prolific Timycen Maruma caught for just one run, leaving Mountaineers at 26 for three.
Mumba’s pace made him a hostile opponent on the Takashinga pitch, which was two-paced and not easy to bat on: at one end Mumba found sharp lift, while at the other the pitch was rather spongy and slower.
Richmond Mutumbami stayed in with Kasuza, who showed impressive technique in handling the bowling until Tendai Chisoro came on and had him caught at the wicket for a sound 35.
Mutumbami soon followed for 16, while Shingi Masakadza was another victim to Mumba, lbw for seven, and at this stage Mountaineers were reeling at 90 for six.
Now Mashinge joined Tiripano and the tables began to turn, as they dug in and put on 61 together, before Mumba returned to bowl Tiripano for 26.
Wellington Masakadza then repeated his fine partnership of last week with Mashinge, scoring a confident 27 in a stand of 55 this time, before he was out.
Mashinge was ninth out at 223, having scored a fine 60 runs off 115 balls, with 10 fours to his credit.
The innings closed for 230, with Mumba returning figures of five for 51, while Chisoro backed him up well with three for 54.
Mashinge’s innings had given his team something to bowl at, and their bowlers used it well as Rhinos struggled in the final session.
Prince Masvaure, who carried his bat through the innings against Eagles last week, could this time score only one boundary before he was bowled by the last delivery of Tendai Chatara’s first over.
Takudzwa Kaitano scored quickly but made only 12 runs, while Bright Njanji quickly fell for four, making the score 39 for three.
The great moment for Mountaineers came at 47, however, when the Rhinos captain PJ Moor, who had opened the innings, was caught by Shingi Masakadza off the bowling of Tiripano for 13; 47 for four.
He was soon followed by Nyasha Mayavo, caught at the wicket for eight, and five wickets were down for 58.
Remembrance Nyathi (12) and Neville Madziva (4) survived the day, and the score at the close was 75 for five wickets, off only 17 overs.
Rhinos are a long way behind now, and desperately need at least one of their team to stand in the gap as Mashinge did if they are to have a chance in this match.
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