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Mountaineers – 230 and 124-0 in 31 overs (Kevin Kasuza 65*, Joylord Gumbie 49*)
Rhinos – 269 all out in 76 overs (Remembrance Nyathi 105, Neville Madziva 80, Brandon Mavuta 18; Roy Kaia 4/47, Donald Tiripano 2/40, Victor Nyauchi 1/28)
Day 2 – Stumps: Mountaineers lead by 85 runs with 10 wickets remaining
At Takashinga Sports Club on Thursday, a superb century by Remembrance Nyathi, aided by Neville Madziva in a partnership of 151, turned the Logan Cup match against Mountaineers in favour of Rhinos in the morning.
During the afternoon, however, an excellent opening stand of 124, unbroken, swung the balance of the game again towards the champions, who perhaps can claim to have regained a slight advantage by close of play.
Overnight Rhinos were deep in trouble at 75 for five wickets, with Nyathi and Madziva together, on 12 and four respectively.
It took Mountaineers over three hours to break this partnership, although they had only themselves to blame, as their bowlers appeared to have lost some of their cutting edge, while the fielders gave Madziva a couple of lives with dropped chances.
Madziva was the more aggressive of the two, scoring his career-best 80 out of the 151-run partnership before he was finally out stumped, but Nyathi was the more secure and played the better innings.
While Madziva hit, facing only 120 balls in his innings and hitting 12 fours and two sixes, Nyathi played a most responsible and well-judged innings, defending skilfully and taking advantage of every loose ball that came his way.
When Madziva finally departed, Tendai Chisoro failed, but Brandon Mavuta stayed long enough for 18 to add 40 runs for the eighth wicket and overtake the Mountaineers’ first-innings score of 230.
But he and Carl Mumba fell in quick succession, leaving Nyathi on 92 when the last man Tafara Chingwara arrived at the crease.
Chingwara only had to face four deliveries successfully, as Nyathi stepped on the gas, reached his fourth career century, and was finally last out for an outstanding 105.
He faced 218 balls and hit 14 fours, giving his team a lead of 39 on the first innings.
Roy Kaia was the best of the bowlers with his off-spin, taking four of the last five wickets for 47 runs.
The other bowlers were on the whole rather disappointing during the second half of the innings.
Then Mountaineers went in a second time, and were determined to re-establish themselves in the match.
Joylord Gumbie and Kevin Kasuza put their heads down and applied themselves to the task before them with great concentration.
In spite of this they were able to keep the score moving along at a good pace of four runs an over, and were still together at close of play.
Kasuza finished the day on 65, while Gumbie had 49; the total was 124 and Mountaineers were 85 runs ahead with all their wickets in hand.
So despite Nyathi’s fine innings, the day finished with Mountaineers back with the advantage, and they will be keen to play a major second innings tomorrow and ensure another victory for themselves as they aim to retain the Logan Cup again.
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