Rhinos condemn Rocks to huge innings defeat

Rhinos – 621-9 declared in 139.5 overs (Prince Masvaure 166, Antum Naqvi 108, Remembrance Nyathi 100*; Takudzwa Chataira 4/100, Priviledge Chesa 4/159, Nigel Mupurura 1/104)

Southern Rocks – 203 and 227 all out in 75.3 overs (following on) (Alistair Frost 51, Cephas Zhuwao 50, Jayden Schadendorf 40; Antum Naqvi 4/47, Brandon Mavuta 3/112, Prince Masvaure 2/21)

Rhinos won by an innings and 191 runs

Fine bowling by Mike Chinouya and Brandon Mavuta on Friday broke the back of the Southern Rocks first innings in their Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club, leading to an eventual big victory for Rhinos just before the close by an innings and 191 runs.

Rocks began the day on 112 for five wickets in reply to the huge Rhinos first-innings score of 621 for nine wickets declared, with Jayden Schadendorf on 17 and Nigel Mupurura seven.

Chinouya removed them both very quickly and then ripped into the tail, taking four wickets in three overs and sending Rocks into a tailspin at 142 for nine.

Complete disaster was saved by Richmond Mutumbami, who played brilliantly while the last man Sydney Murombo hung on at the other end.

Mutumbami hit 68 runs off 66 balls before being caught off Mavuta, having taken the score to 203.

He scored mostly in boundaries, hitting a six and 13 fours, and monopolising the strike expertly.

Murombo only had to face 16 balls in 11 overs, making eight runs.

Chinouya finished with four wickets for only 38 runs, while Mavuta had five for 78.

Rhinos had a lead of 418, so they naturally made Rocks follow on.

The best part of the Rocks second innings was a third-wicket partnership of 75 between the youngsters Schadendorf and Alistair Frost.

Schadendorf played a very dour innings, taking 153 balls to score 40 runs, while Frost did well to run to a maiden first-class fifty – out for 51.

The middle order did not last too long against the wily spin of Mavuta, except for Cephas Zhuwao, who made his usual big hits and scored 50 off 70 balls, with three sixes and five fours.

Antum Naqvi dismissed him and helped Mavuta to hustle out the tail, the last wicket falling just after 5pm for a total of 227.

Naqvi with four for 47 was the most successful bowler, while Mavuta took three wickets, but they cost him 112 runs.

This is Rhinos’ third victory in the Logan Cup competition this season, and their largest.

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Mega Market Mountaineers – 320 and 253-5 in 76 overs (Dion Myers 83, Kevin Kasuza 75, Brian Bennett 57*; Nkosana Mpofu 2/36, Tanatswa Bechani 2/71, Ernest Masuku 1/37)

Tuskers – 434 all out in 108.5 overs (Tafara Mupariwa 91, Luke Jongwe 88, Dalubuhle Mboyi 68*; Vincent Masekesa 5/144, Baxon Gopito 2/15, Dion Myers 1/32)

Day 3 – Stumps: Mega Market Mountaineers lead by 139 runs

A fine second-wicket partnership of 156 between Kevin Kasuza and Dion Myers brought Mega Market Mountaineers back into their Logan Cup game at Old Hararians Sports Club on Friday after they had conceded a first-innings lead of 114 to Tuskers.

The day began with Tuskers on 362 for seven, with Dalubhle Mboyi on 25 and Tanatswa Bechani yet to score.

Bechani and Mgcini Dube did not last long, and the ninth wicket fell at 370.

Mboyi and the last man, Tinotenda Maposa, decided that attack was the best policy, and they hit out boldly to add 64 for the last wicket in just 10.4 overs.

Maposa was finally out for 24 off 30 balls, while Mboyi in his second match recorded a fifty, 68 not out in the end, off 124 balls with nine fours.

Vincent Masekesa was the best of the bowlers, taking five wickets, though at the expense of 144 runs.

Mountaineers struggled at the start of their second innings, losing Baxon Gopito for nine.

Kasuza was rather uncertain at first, but he began to find his form, in partnership with Dion Myers, who played confidently from the start.

So well did they bat in partnership that Mountaineers cleared off the arrears with only one wicket down.

Kasuza eventually fell to a return catch by Bechani for 75, with two sixes and eight fours off 127 balls, and 12 runs later Myers followed him back to the pavilion, bowled by Nkosana Mpofu for 83 off the same number of deliveries as his partner – his score included a six and 14 fours.

Two more wickets fell fairly quickly, but then Donald Tiripano settled in with Brian Bennett, who was batting well and reached 57 by the close, when the score was 253 for five wickets.

Mountaineers are 139 runs ahead with five wickets in hand, and there could be a good finish to this match this Saturday.