Rhinos gore Rocks, as Tuskers floor Eagles in Pro50 action

Southern Rocks – 235 all out in 46.3 overs (Tafadzwa Tsiga 50, Tendai Chisoro 48, Cephas Zhuwao 45; Carl Mumba 5/57, Johnathan Campbell 3/48, Charles Kunje 1/2)

Rhinos – 236-7 in 49.2 overs (Bright Matsiwe 64, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 51, Remembrance Nyati 31; Roy Kaia 3/25, Patrick Mambo 2/44, Travor Mutsamba 1/41)

Rhinos won by three wickets

A century partnership between Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Bright Matsiwe and a magnificent last-ditch stand between bowlers Carl Mumba and Neville Madziva secured an exciting and brilliant victory for Rhinos by three wickets over the powerful Southern Rocks team in a Pro50 Championship match played today at Old Hararians Sports Club.

Rhinos put Rocks in to bat on winning the toss, and immediately Cephas Zhuwao launched one of his famous assaults on the bowling, hammering 45 off 33 balls, with six fours and three sixes.

With Tafadzwa Tsiga also scoring well, the opening partnership put up 70 runs in seven overs before Carl Mumba was no doubt thankful to have Zhuwao caught.

Tsiga went on to score 50 off 76 balls before he was lbw to Charles Kunje, and then Johnathan Campbell with his off-breaks caused a sudden middle-order slump, with Richmond Mutumbami falling to him for 14, Roy Kaia without scoring and Larvet Masunda five.

Brian Mudzinganyama had scored nine, so Rocks suddenly found themselves reduced to 137 for six wickets.

However, William Mashinge and Tendai Chisoro came to the rescue and put on an invaluable 84 for the seventh wicket before Chisoro was caught off Mumba for 48, at 221 for seven.

Mumba then finished off the innings by taking all the last four wickets – including Mashinge for 35 – for only 14 runs, the innings closing for 235.

Rhinos suffered an early setback when Prince Masvaure was caught and bowled by Patrick Mambo for one.

Then came the superb stand between Kaitano and Matsiwe for the second wicket, as they put on 101 in 18 overs, until Matsiwe, the more aggressive of the two, was dismissed lbw by Chisoro for 64 – he faced 62 balls and hit 11 fours and a six.

Kaitano played a fine anchor role as he moved steadily to his fifty and was eventually caught and bowled by Roy Kaia for 51, which took him 102 balls, with the score at 156 for four.

The middle order did not achieve much success, apart from Remembrance Nyathi, who made 31 off 45 balls, but when he was out Rhinos were 189 for seven in the 44th over and Rocks were on top.

Then Madziva joined Mumba, and they had not given up the fight, as with resolute batting they brought in the runs.

They paced their innings superbly, as they needed 47 to win in 6.1 overs and managed to hunt them down with just four balls to spare in the final over.

Both not out at the end, Mumba scored 29 off 20 balls and Madziva 16 off 17.

Amid great tension, victory came with a two to Mumba off Mashinge.

So skilfully had the pair played that they scored at least one run off each of the last 12 balls bowled, including a wide — just one four, with two twos and eight singles.

Kaia, as so often, bowled with great accuracy and skill, returning the excellent bowling figures of three for 25 in his 10 overs, while Mambo took two for 44.

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Tuskers – 260-7 in 50 overs (Alvin Chiradza 49*, Milton Shumba 47, Bright Phiri 45; Malcolm Chikuwa 2/34, Cuthbert Musoko 2/52, Ashley Mufandauya 1/26)

Eagles – 188 all out in 40.4 overs (Elton Chigumbura 55, Clive Imbayago 38, Cuthbert Musoko 22; Tawanda Dzikiti 3/32, Ernest Masuku 3/34, John Nyumbu 2/39)

Tuskers won by 72 runs

Despite a fighting innings of 55 from Elton Chigumbura, Eagles went down to Tuskers by 72 runs in the other Pro50 Championship game at Takashinga Sports Club today.

Eagles followed their usual practice by putting their opponents in to bat on winning the toss, but probably regretted it.

Although Brighton Zhawi bowled Cunningham Ncube without scoring in the second over, consistent batting from the top and middle order gave Tuskers a very good total.

Bright Phiri (45) and Nkosana Mpofu (36) put on 77 for the second wicket, and after them came Milton Shumba (47) and Clive Madande (32) with 67 for the fourth wicket.

Alvin Chiradza, helped by Ainsley Ndlovu (20), played the most aggressive innings, 49 not out off 43 balls, and his was the highest score in an unusually large total when none of the batsmen reached 50.

Malcolm Chikuwa returned the best bowling figures of two for 34 in his 10 overs, while Cuthbert Musoko took two for 52 in nine overs.

Eagles had a difficult chance, and they did not get the good start they needed, with their first five wickets going down for 73 runs, including Brad Evans, bowled by Ndlovu for 12.

Clive Imbayago opened the innings and played an anchor role, scoring 38 off 75 balls.

After he left at 110, Chigumbura found some of his best form, attacking the bowling with the assistance of Cuthbert Musoko at the other end.

A 51-run partnership took the score to 161, when Musoko was out for 22.

Chigumbura reached a fine fifty, the only one of the match, but he was out at 173 for eight and Eagles were doomed, finishing with a total of 188.

Ernest Masuku took three wickets for 34 runs and Tawanda Dzikiti three for 32, while there were two wickets to John Nyumbu.

2020/21 PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE