Rhinos on the brink despite recording four fifties

Rhinos – 214 and 313 all out in 90.4 overs (Johnathan Campbell 68, Remembrance Nyathi 67, Nyasha Mayavo 66; Sean Williams 4/44, Sheunopa Musekwa 3/61, Jordan Morris 1/37)

Tuskers – 432 all out in 116.1 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 122, Sean Williams 92, Ainsley Ndlovu 56; Brandon Mavuta 4/143, Kiran Carlson 2/75, Christopher Masike 1/33)

Day 3 – Stumps: Rhinos lead by 95 runs

Eddie Byrom, Remembrance Nyathi, Johnathan Campbell and Nyasha Mayavo all scored fifties for Rhinos in a team total of 313 at Old Hararians Sports Club on Monday, the third day of their Logan Cup game against Tuskers.

It was unfortunate for their side, though, that none of them could turn a good fifty into a big century, which was what they really needed to stay in the match.

Rhinos began their second innings in the morning, having conceded a first-innings lead of 218 to Tuskers.

Sheu Musekwa gave Tuskers hopes of a three-day victory with two quick wickets, trapping Takudzwanashe Kaitano lbw for four and having Kiran Carlson caught at the wicket, also for four, in his second over to leave Rhinos reeling at 12 for two.

But the rot stopped here, as Nyathi joined Byrom, and in their differing styles they tamed the Tuskers bowling.

Byrom’s was the fastest of the four fifties, as he played his strokes freely and scored 54 off only 53 balls, with no fewer than 13 fours, before he swung across the line to a straight ball and Jordan Morris bowled him, with the Rhinos score 84.

Nyathi scored the slowest fifty of the day, digging in deep at the crease and refusing to be shifted until he had scored 67 off 215 balls – he hit 10 fours – as the strong backbone of the Rhinos.

His next partner was Campbell, who played a bright innings of 68 off 100 balls – including two sixes and eight fours – in a partnership with Nyathi of 95.

His dismissal brought in Mayavo, who added 47 with Nyathi before the latter was finally prised out, having batted for over four hours for his marathon innings – he was caught off the bowling of Musekwa.

The score was now 226 for five, and Mayavo continued to score quite freely for 66 off 92 balls, eventually being last man out, caught off Sean Williams.

He did not receive much support from the tail, although Carl Mumba and Brandon Mavuta made quick innings of 15 and 13 respectively, as Williams brought the innings to a quick ending just before the close for 313.

Williams finished with four wickets for 44 runs, while Musekwa, who only bowled nine overs and had 61 runs scored from them, nevertheless took three vital wickets.

On the fourth and final day, Tuskers will need 96 runs to win, which in the normal run of things should cause them little trouble and the match may well finish before lunch.

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Mega Market Mountaineers – 329 all out in 93.2 overs (Tony Munyonga 93, PJ Moor 89, Ben Compton 37; Tanaka Chivanga 5/63, Faraz Akram 2/31, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/84)

Eagles – 317-5 in 81 overs (Craig Ervine 93, Wessly Madhevere 66*, Kudzai Maunze 43; Donald Tiripano 1/39, Clive Chitumba 1/45, Wellington Masakadza 1/45)

Day 2 – Eagles trail by 12 runs

Another fine innings from Craig Ervine was the highlight of the second day’s play at Harare Sports Club on Monday, as Eagles played steadily towards a first-innings lead in their Logan Cup match against Mega Market Mountaineers.

They finished the day only 12 runs behind their opponents’ score with five wickets in hand.

Mountaineers began the day at 311 for seven wickets, with Donald Tiripano on 32 and Wellington Masakadza 13.

Tanaka Chivanga made sure they had little to add, removing Tiripano for 34 and Masakadza for 18, before bowling Tinashe Muchawaya first ball to close the innings for 329.

Chivanga finished with five wickets for 63 runs, while Faraz Akram also merits mention with an analysis of two for 31 off 17 overs.

The Eagles batters now got down to an efficient day’s work.

Larvet Masunda and Kudzai Maunze opened the innings and took no undue risks as they compiled a sound 63 together in 25 overs before they were dismissed in turn for 37 and 43.

This brought Ervine to the crease, to bat fluently, and the most entertaining cricket of the day was his eight-over third-wicket partnership with Chamu Chibhabha that added 56 runs.

Chibhabha was then bowled by Clive Chitumba for 33, scored off 31 balls with seven fours.

Nick Welch, batting at number five this time, was not at his best, scoring 16 off 40 balls before being caught and bowled by Wellington Masakadza.

With Wessly Madhevere joining him, Ervine sped towards his century, only to join the remarkable number of batters this season to get out in the nineties, being bowled by Tony Munyonga for 93 – he faced 104 balls and hit 16 fours.

Madhevere reached his fifty before the close and finished unbeaten with a fluent 66, partnered now by Cunningham Ncube who has 19.

The score at the close was 317 for five wickets, and they will expect to build a very useful lead on day three.

All five wickets to fall were taken by different bowlers, with Wellington Masakadza perhaps doing the most impressive job with one wicket for 48 so far off 18 overs.