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Tuskers – 366 and 9-0 in 2 overs (Tanunurwa Makoni 4*, Nkosana Mpofu 4*)
Southern Rocks – 337 all out in 107.1 overs (Richmond Mutumbami 108*, Cephas Zhuwao 90, Innocent Kaia 47; Sean Williams 5/93, Ainsley Ndlovu 3/53, Jordan Morris 1/44)
Day 2 – Stumps: Tuskers lead by 38 runs
A fine century from Richmond Mutumbami led Southern Rocks’ challenge to Tuskers’ first-innings score of 366 in their Logan Cup match at Old Hararians Sports Club on Friday, but lack of support from the later batters meant that they fell 29 runs short.
The day began with Rocks on 64 for no wicket, with Innocent Kaia on 29 and Cephas Zhuwao 34.
As so often, the big-hitting left-hander Zhuwao took all the attention as long as he was at the crease.
He soon got into his stride, eager to start a six-hitting spree, while Kaia gave him sound support, and the pair took their opening partnership to 135 before Sean Williams finally removed Zhuwao for 90.
He scored the runs off 84 balls and hit eight sixes and seven fours.
Kaia soon followed him in Williams’ next over, caught for 47.
Brian Mudzinganyama was quite unable to get going and made just two runs off 36 balls before he was stumped off Williams.
His partner Ben Compton had settled in well and took his score to 37 before he was out lbw to Ainsley Ndlovu with the score now 180 for four.
Ndlovu and Williams, bowling in tandem, quickly followed up by removing Roy Kaia without scoring and Tafadzwa Tsiga for six, and Rocks suddenly found themselves at 189 for six.
Mutumbami was still there, though, and the rest of the Rocks innings was virtually his personal story.
His best partner was William Mashinge, who played a dogged defensive innings in support, which allowed Mutumbami to play steadily without undue haste or concern.
They put on 81 for the seventh wicket, of which Mashinge scored a valuable 17.
The only other batter to do much was Priviledge Chesa at number 10, who batted well for 17 in a partnership of 40 with Mutumbami.
Mutumbami was on 96 when the last man, Keith Jaure, joined him at the crease, but the newcomer only stayed long enough for Mutumbami to reach his century and finish unbeaten with 108, the innings total being 337.
Mutumbami scored his runs off 184 balls with a six and 12 fours, his seventh first-class century.
Williams was the most successful bowler with five wickets for 93, while his fellow spinner Ndlovu took three for 53.
There was just time for Tuskers to start their second innings before the close, and in two overs the score was nine, with a boundary each to Tanu Makoni and Nkosana Mpofu.
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Rhinos – 455 all out in 114.1 overs (Ryan Burl 128, Brandon Mavuta 78, Nyasha Mayavo 77; Tanaka Chivanga 3/96, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/69, Brad Evans 2/70)
Eagles – 265-2 in 64 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 99, Kudzai Maunze 64, Nick Welch 49*; Ryan Burl 1/36, Johnathan Campbell 1/44)
Day 2 – Stumps: Eagles trail by 190 runs
With a dashing innings of 99 from Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Eagles made a strong challenge to the excellent Rhinos score of 455 at Harare Sports Club on Friday, finishing on 265 with only two wickets down.
Wickets are not falling easily at this ground, and only five went down today, as first Rhinos took their overnight score of 325 for seven to 455.
The leading figure was Brandon Mavuta, who began the day with nine and played a fine positive innings to take his score to 78.
He could not have done it without the sterling effort of the veteran Mike Chinouya, who gallantly held his end up for 46 balls and 12 runs in a partnership that raised the score by 117 runs, of which extras also made a large contribution.
The stand ended with the dismissal of Mavuta, caught off Tanaka Chivanga, his 78 coming off 97 balls and including 11 fours.
The score was 442, and then Tapiwa Mufudza finished off the innings for 455 by bowling Chinouya and the last man, Trevor Gwandu (11).
Chivanga took three wickets for 96, while there were two wickets each for Brad Evans, Mufudza and Wessly Madhevere.
On such a good batting pitch Eagles openers Kamunhukamwe and Kudzai Maunze went out to bat with every confidence, although they played in contrasting styles.
Maunze kept a sound defence and played a supporting role, while Kamunhukamwe played a brilliant dashing innings as he took on the bowlers with a series of powerful boundaries, scoring at better than a run a ball.
He took on the pace bowlers Tafara Chingwara and Trevor Gwandu, hitting them mercilessly, although the experienced Chinouya kept him fairly quiet.
He was unfortunately destined to join the list of batters dismissed for 99 this season, as on the verge of his century he was caught at the wicket off Johnathan Campbell, having hit three sixes and 15 fours.
The opening partnership put on 134 runs in 27 overs.
Maunze continued on his steady way until he was the second man out for 64 (142 balls) with the score 191 for two.
His partner Craig Ervine had been playing a careful game, but the next man in, Nick Welch, was in fine form and by the close he had lapped his senior partner.
Eagles were then well poised to lead Rhinos with an even larger score, with Ervine not out on 39 and Welch on 49.
Remarkably for a leg-spinner, Mavuta has been the most economical bowler so far, without a wicket but giving away only 47 runs off his 16 overs.
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