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Eagles – 255 all out in 47.5 overs (Kudzai Maunze 65, Wessly Madhevere 48, Faraz Akram 31; Kudakwashe Macheka 4/36, Keith Jaure 3/36, Trevor Gwandu 2/50)
Southern Rocks – 249 all out in 44.3 overs (Keith Jaure 43, Innocent Kaia 42, Richmond Mutumbami 29*; Tanaka Chivanga 3/28, Tapiwa Mufudza 3/36, Alex Russell 3/58)
Eagles won by six runs
Two deliveries from Tanaka Chivanga enabled Eagles to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in their thrilling Pro50 Championship match against Southern Rocks at Takashinga Cricket Club on Friday.
In an exciting finish to this 2023/24 season opener, Rocks, responding to the Eagles score of 255 all out, reached 249 with eight wickets down and a fine partnership in operation, when Chivanga abruptly ended the game by having Keith Jaure caught at the wicket for 43 and then bowling out the last man Kudakwashe Macheka with his next delivery.
It had been a closely fought match all the way through after Rocks put Eagles in to bat.
Eagles lost their first two wickets for 23, including that of Craig Ervine for four, but a lively 48 off 43 balls from Wessly Madhevere revived their fortunes.
Even so, five were gone for 109 before Kudzai Maunze (65) and Faraz Akram (31) added 89 for the sixth wicket, and useful scores from the later batters took the total to 255 all out in the 48th over.
Jaure took three vital top-order wickets for 36 runs, while Macheka picked up four for 36, mostly from down the order.
Rocks batted consistently in reply, with Innocent Kaia leading the way with a fluent 42 off only 28 balls.
All the first six batters reached double figures, but apart from Kaia none of the others took advantage of their starts by even reaching 30.
The match appeared to be as good as over when the eighth wicket fell for 177, but then Richmond Mutumbami, who strangely kept himself back to bat at number 10, joined Jaure, and the two of them kept the runs flowing at a good pace.
Their partnership added 72 runs, they were seven runs from victory with overs in hand and appeared ready to snatch the victory when Chivanga bowled his two fatal deliveries and Eagles had the last vital word.
Jaure’s aggressive 43 came off 39 balls, while Mutumbami coolly made 29 not out off 35, ultimately in vain.
Chivanga finished with three wickets for 28 runs, while the ever-consistent Tapiwa Mufudza and the Northamptonshire leg-spinner Alex Russell also took three wickets each.
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Mountaineers – 295-7 in 50 overs (Tony Munyonga 96, Joylord Gumbie 63, Spencer Magodo 29*; Carl Mumba 2/32, Antum Naqvi 1/28, Ryan Burl 1/31)
Rhinos – 296-6 in 44.3 overs (Tarisai Musakanda 83*, Ryan Burl 59, Prince Masvaure 49; Tendai Chatara 2/60, Donald Tiripano 2/66, Tinashe Muchawaya 1/45)
Rhinos won by four wickets
There was another close finish at Mutare Sports Club, where Tarisai Musakanda showed his true class with a match-winning innings of 83 not out to steer Rhinos to a tense four-wicket victory over Mountaineers with just one over to spare.
Mountaineers, who chose to bat, enjoyed a fine start by reaching 53 for one and 135 for two wickets, thanks mainly to fine innings of 63 off 84 balls by Joylord Gumbie and 96 off 86 balls by Tony Munyonga.
With Dane Schadendorf scoring 27, the score was a good 220 for four when Munyonga was out in the 40th over.
The later batters perhaps failed to capitalise on this score as well as they might have done, and their final total of 295 for seven wickets was indeed in the end just not enough.
Carl Mumba had been the best of the Rhinos bowlers, taking two wickets for 32 in seven overs.
Rhinos enjoyed steady batting at the top of the order and scored well, their only problem being keeping up with the required run rate.
They reached 161 in the 31st over, with their best partnership having been 70 for the second wicket between Prince Masvaure (49) and Antum Naqvi (41).
Then Musakanda and Ryan Burl put on 102 for the fourth wicket in 14 overs, improving the scoring rate, until Burl was out for 59 off 52 balls at 263 for four in the 45th over.
The next two batters were out cheaply, which put pressure on the scoring rate.
However, Musakanda played a superb innings, holding his end firm and keeping the runs coming so that with Tashinga Musekiwa at the crease the winning runs came with an over in hand.
Musakanda’s unbeaten 83 came off 75 deliveries and contained seven fours.
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