Eagles – 278-8 in 50 overs (Nick Welch 64, Wessly Madhevere 63, Faraz Akram 33*; Simon Mugava 3/40, Brandon Mavuta 2/41, Tafara Chingwara 1/24)
Rhinos – 248 all out in 46.4 overs (Prince Masvaure 54, Ryan Burl 52, Brandon Mavuta 50*; Alex Russell 3/55, Faraz Akram 2/29, Wessly Madhevere 2/42)
Eagles won by 30 runs
With one match to spare, they have now scored enough points, 14 from seven matches, to secure their place in the final of the competition.
Quick-fire innings of 21 from Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and 11 from Tadiwanashe Marumani gave Eagles a brisk start of 63 for two in the 10th over.
Kudzai Maunze also made a quick 18, but the real substance of the innings came from Welch, with 64 off 63 balls, and Madhevere, 63 off 74.
After Welch left at 133 for four in the 24th over, Chamu Chibhabha played a supporting role in making 33, while his partnership with Madhevere added 78 in 16 overs.
Simon Mugava then took three wickets in quick succession to make the score a rather unsatisfactory 231 for eight in the 45th over.
This situation needed somebody to come in and play a big-hitting innings, and Faraz Akram did just that, counting two sixes and two fours among his strokes as he made 33 not out off 21 balls.
Tanaka Chivanga gave him good support with 15 not out, so the score ended as 278 for eight wickets.
Mugava was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 40.
In reply, Rhinos got a flying start from Takudzwanaishe Kaitano, who took advantage of the power-play overs to hit 42 off 43 balls, making the score 64 when he was first out in the 13th over.
It was quite a blow to Rhinos to lose their banker, Antum Naqvi, for a rare low score, 15, caught on the midwicket boundary aiming for a six off Tapiwa Mufudza, at 97 for two in the 18th over.
Tarisai Musakanda went for one, but the opener Prince Masvaure was still there, and he found a good partner in Ryan Burl, the pair adding 60 for the fourth wicket until Chivanga bowled him out for a valuable 54.
With two more wickets falling quickly, the balance had swung back towards Eagles at 162 for six in the 30th over.
Brandon Mavuta then came in and batted very well, and Rhinos were back in the game until Burl hit across the line to Akram and was bowled for 52 off 49 balls.
Mugava then played a valuable innings and Rhinos drew closer as they added 52 for the eighth wicket – only for Mugava (20) and Neville Madziva to fall to consecutive deliveries from Alex Russell.
Mavuta reached a fine fifty off 58 balls, but the last man Tafara Chingwara fell lbw to Akram and the match was over.
Russell was the most successful bowler, but he was quite expensive with three for 55, while Akram was the most economical with two for 29 off 8.4 overs.
Once again, the greater depth and confidence of the Eagles team had seen them through a close encounter for their seventh consecutive victory.
Southern Rocks – 233-7 in 50 overs (Tafadzwa Tsiga 77*, Brian Mudzinganyama 47, Richmond Mutumbami 26; Mgcini Dube 2/36, Chris Mpofu 2/42, Milton Shumba 2/52)
Tuskers – 218 all out in 48.5 overs (Luke Jongwe 42, Brian Chari 35, Clive Madande 31; Roy Kaia 3/38, Sydney Murombo 2/18, Trevor Gwandu 2/42)
Southern Rocks won by 15 runs
A fine aggressive innings of 77 not out by Tafadzwa Tsiga at a pivotal moment in the Southern Rocks innings was the major factor in his team’s 15-run victory over Tuskers in their Pro50 Championship match at Masvingo Sports Club on Friday.
Rocks, put in to bat, suffered a disappointing start as the big-hitting Cephas Zhuwao was caught for just a single, off Chris Mpofu, and then Roy Kaia was out for nine.
Brian Mudzinganyama (47) and Richmond Mutumbami (26) steadied the innings, but then they were separated at 94 for three 26 overs had been used up.
Tsiga then came good just when it mattered the most, attacking the bowling in fine fashion to bat for the rest of the innings, scoring 77 not out off 77 deliveries and giving the score a much-needed boost.
Tendai Chisoro with 24 helped him in a sixth-wicket partnership of 64 in just under 10 overs, so the final total was 233 for seven wickets.
Mpofu, Mgcini Dube and Milton Shumba were the most successful bowlers with two wickets apiece, though the accuracy of Ainsley Ndlovu was invaluable, as he bowled his 10 overs to take one wicket for only 32 runs.
Tuskers made a bad start as they lost the wicket of Hamid Ali to Gwandu in the first over of the innings.
After that came a string of consistent scores, the next eight batters all reaching double figures, but not one of them could go on to play the significant major innings that would turn the match for their team, as Tsiga had done.
Four wickets were down for 76 before Brian Chari and Clive Madande put on 58 together in 10 overs for the fifth wicket, but both were out in quick succession.
After that Tuskers were never quite able to score quickly enough, and wickets fell as they tried.
Thirty-four were needed in the last four overs with three wickets left, but the task was too great.
Luke Jongwe made a fine effort with 42, the highest score, off 45 balls, with help from Ndlovu (14) and Brandon James (15), but when he was ninth out at 214 after 48 overs, it was game over for Tuskers.
Kaia with his steady bowling took three valuable later wickets for 38 runs in his 10 overs.
PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE
| TEAM | M | W | L | T | NR | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.895 |
| Rhinos | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.338 |
| Rocks | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.532 |
| Tuskers | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.369 |
| Mountaineers | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1.723 |
