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Rhinos – 48-4 in 15.2 overs (Bright Njanji 15, Lavert Masunda 7, Neville Madziva 7*; Trevor Garwe 2/6, Blessing Muzarabani 1/13, Richard Ngarava 1/13)
Eagles
Day 1 – Stumps
Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Trevor Garwe.
This is the formidable Eagles bowling attack, and in less than an hour-and-a-half’s play at Harare Sports Club they tore through the Rhinos top-order batting, leaving the Kwekwe-based team reeling at 48 for four wickets on the first day of their opening Logan Cup match on Thursday.
Both teams had an overseas player — Muzarabani of Eagles being now so classified after signing a contract with Northamptonshire in England, while Rhinos played Mohammad Hussain Bhola, a left-arm seam bowler who has played for Durham.
The start of the match was delayed until 2.30 in the afternoon due to portions of the outfield still being wet after the heavy rains of the previous two days.
The toss went the traditional way at Harare Sports Club — Eagles won it and put their opponents in to bat.
Muzarabani opened the bowling with Ngarava, to be faced by Prince Masvaure and Takudzwa Kaitano.
Kaitano was unable to score before, in the fourth over, he tried to withdrawn his bat from a short ball from Ngarava but feathered a catch to Regis Chakabva, the wicket-keeper; seven for one.
Masvaure soon followed him for six, as Muzarabani made a ball fly from the pitch; it hit him on the gloves and flew into the slips, to be caught by Kudzai Maunze.
At nine for two in the fifth over, Rhinos were already in trouble.
Bright Njanji hit the first boundary of the innings, a handsome straight drive off a no-ball from Ngarava.
Both bowlers bowled at some pace and produced some superb deliveries, but neither was consistently accurate, a virtue that might well have broken the back of the inexperienced Rhinos batting in quick time.
Ngarava, bowling from the city end, did however have some trouble finding a firm foothold at the bowling crease.
The left-handed Larvet Masunda battled hard for seven runs, but after seeing off Muzarabani then fell to Garwe’s first delivery, another catch by Maunze in the slips; 35 for three.
The new man, Neville Madziva, jabbed at his first ball, and was almost caught and bowled, Garwe just failing to hold a difficult low chance to his left.
He then drove a three, but Garwe struck again with his fourth delivery, as Njanji, who had put up an impressive fight for 15, unaccountably drove a catch straight to mid-off.
Rhinos were now reeling at 38 for four wickets, and almost lost a fifth, as Tendai Chisoro started off for an ill-judged single into the covers, and only survived due to a bad throw from the fielder.
Play only lasted a few minutes more, however, as just before four o’clock the light worsened and rain began to fall.
The players left the field with the score on 48 for four wickets; Madziva had 11 and Chisoro two.
Eagles are well on top already, but the weather could easily prevent them from starting their season with a victory.
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