PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP: Rhinos remain winless

Rhinos – 261 all out in 47.4 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 73, Prince Masvaure 61, Tarisai Musakanda 34; Tapiwa Mufudza 3/38, Marshal Takodza 3/55, Daniel Jakiel 1/38)

Alliance Health Eagles – 266-4 in 42.1 overs (Marshal Takodza 76*, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 62, Tinotenda Mutombodzi 52*; Brandon Mavuta 3/64, Manson Chikowero 1/37)

Alliance Health Eagles won by six wickets

A brilliant century partnership between Tino Mutombodzi and Marshal Takodza took Alliance Health Eagles home to a six-wicket victory over Rhinos in their Pro50 Championship match at Takashinga Sports Club on Sunday.

This was a meeting between two struggling sides, as Eagles had won only one of their four matches in the tournament so far, while Rhinos had lost all four.

Rhinos decided to bat on winning the toss, and Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Prince Masvaure gave them the ideal start, with an excellent opening partnership of 108 in less than 20 overs, before Kaitano was caught and bowled by Wessly Madhevere for an excellent innings of 73 off 72 balls.

He hit powerfully to record a six and 11 fours, and he certainly did his part to give his team an excellent start.

Tarisai Musakanda joined Masvaure and the pair kept the momentum going, adding 52 in nine overs before Takodza bowled Masvaure for 61, scored off 82 balls.

Musakanda was the third man to go at 185, caught off Takodza for 34 off 37 balls, and from this point onwards the innings began to lose its way.

Ryan Burl took 28 balls to score 14 before being caught off Brighton Zhawi.

Then began a procession of wickets at one end, as one batsman followed another back to the changing room without one of them staying long enough to reach double figures.

Johnathan Campbell did a fine job to hold up one end from No 5, scoring 33 not out from 28 balls, but he needed an equally capable partner for Rhinos to keep their advantage, and this he never found.

Tapiwa Mufudza did most of the damage at this stage, taking three wickets at a small cost as the batters tried unsuccessfully to get hold of his off-breaks.

The last eight Rhinos wickets actually fell in just over 12 overs for 76 runs, and the team was bowled out for 261 in the 48th over.

Eagles for their part had done very well to bowl themselves back into the game when they looked likely to concede 300 or more runs.

Mufudza finished with figures of three for 38 in 9.4 overs, while Takodza also took three wickets, these for 55 runs.

Eagles began their reply with all confidence of being able to chase down their target with time to spare.

Tinashe Kamunhukamwe played some dashing strokes, being particularly severe on the bowling of Carl Mumba, whom he hit for two fours and a six in four balls.

It was good to see the wholehearted Mike Chinouya back and bowling for Rhinos again, but his first spell of four overs cost 28 runs.

Eagles lost Gareth Chirawu lbw to Manson Chikowero for 13 with the score on 53 in the 10th over, but Kamunhukamwe and Kudzai Maunze continued to flog the bowling until Kamunhukamwe was caught off Brandon Mavuta for 62 off only 52 balls.

He hit three sixes and nine fours, and the score was 122 for two in the 18th over.

There was trouble in Mavuta’s next over, as he had Madhevere caught for three, going for a big hit, and off the next delivery bowled Maunze for 44.

Suddenly Eagles found themselves at 127 for four wickets in the 20th over.

They had the right men for the job though in Mutombodzi and Takodza, as the pair settled in and took command of the bowling.

Takodza was more aggressive than his more experienced partner, reaching his fifty first and then hammering one boundary after another as Eagles closed in on their target.

He finished with an unbeaten 76 off 71 balls, with 11 fours, but the honour of scoring the winning runs went to Mutombodzi, who hit Campbell for six to take Eagles home and at the same time bring up his own score to 52, made from 67 balls with two sixes and two fours.

The pair had put on 139 runs in 22 overs, and won the match with almost eight overs to spare.

Mavuta’s three quick wickets gave him the best bowling figures, three for 62 off his 10 overs, but Chikowero was the most economical, taking one for 37 in eight overs.

2021/22 PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE