Mountaineers – 205 all out in 43.1 overs (PJ Moor 79, Dane Schadendorf 29, Spencer Magodo 21; Tapiwa Mufudza 3/55, Wessly Madhevere 2/43, Faraz Akram 1/17)
Eagles – 206-5 in 36.3 overs (Nick Welch 59, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 58, Kudzai Maunze 45*; Prosper Mugeri 2/18, John Masara 2/41, Brian Bennett 1/43)
Eagles won by five wickets:
A dynamic opening partnership of 111 in only 17.3 overs by Nick Welch and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe paved the way for Eagles’ five-wicket victory over Mountaineers in their Pro50 Championship match at Mutare Sports Club on Friday.
Kevin Kasuza (1), Tony Munyonga (8) and Joylord Gumbie (13) were all back in the pavilion with 27 runs on the board in the 12th over.
There followed the best partnership of the innings, though, as PJ Moor, back to form and confidence, was joined by Dane Schadendorf, and they added 79 for the fourth wicket.
Brian Bennett made seven, but Spencer Magodo then batted well in partnership with Moor, who went on to score 79 off 66 balls before he was dismissed at 166 for six.
He hit two fours and no fewer than seven sixes.
Magodo was out for 21, and after this only an aggressive 18 by Tinashe Muchawaya took the score past 200, before the innings closed for 206 in the 44th over.
The bowlers had generously shared the wickets around, with Tapiwa Mufudza taking the most, three for 55, although he suffered at the hands of Moor’s bat.
Then Welch and Kamunhukamwe put the result beyond reasonable doubt with their century opening partnership, which only ended when Welch was caught at the wicket off Prosper Mugeri for 59, scored off 43 balls with four sixes and five fours.
Mugeri soon afterwards bowled Kamunhukamwe for 58, which took him 73 balls, but Kudzai Maunze and Wessly Madhevere then shared a good partnership of 60, dominated by Madhevere, who scored 38 off 27 balls.
After he was out John Masara took two quick wickets, but Maunze was still there to see Eagles home with his steady 45 not out off 48 balls, to continue Eagles’ winning record.
Tuskers – 237 all out in 49.1 overs (Luke Jongwe 55, Nkosana Mpofu 31, Clive Madande 30; Carl Mumba 3/53, Antum Naqvi 2/36, Prince Masvaure 1/21)
Rhinos – 238-4 in 42.3 overs (Prince Masvaure 73, Antum Naqvi 57, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 41; Chris Mpofu 2/31, Milton Shumba 1/15, Mgcini Dube 1/41)
Rhinos won by six wickets:
Fifties from Prince Masvaure and Antum Naqvi did most to bring Rhinos a comfortable six-wicket victory over Tuskers in their Pro50 Championship match at Queens Sports Club on Friday.
Tuskers, put in to bat, played a consistent but not overly effective innings, scoring 237 with eight men reaching double figures, but of these only Luke Jongwe scored more than 31.
This was disappointing for them, as they were given a good start by Clive Madande with 30 and Nkosana Mpofu, who contributed the 31, the pair making 61 for the first wicket within 12 overs.
Then, with Carl Mumba and Naqvi doing most of the damage, the middle order went into decline: Sean Williams went for 12, Brian Chari for six, and five wickets were down for 118.
Milton Shumba and Jongwe then brought about a recovery, until Shumba was out for 30 at 177 for six.
me help from Chris Mpofu with 16 as he went on to make his team’s highest score of 55, which came off 68 balls with two sixes and four fours.
The last wicket fell in the final over with a total of 237, with Mumba the most successful bowler, having three scalps for 53 runs.
Takudzwanaishe Kaitano gave Rhinos a dashing start with 41 off 36 balls, putting on 73 for the first wicket with Masvaure.
Then Masvaure and Naqvi added exactly 100 for the second wicket before Masvaure was out for a steady 73 off 89 balls.
Naqvi made 57 off 72 balls, he and Tarisai Musakanda (24) being out before victory was achieved with Ben Curran (11 not out) and Nyasha Mayavo (12 not out) at the wicket.
The match was over with 7.5 overs to spare, Mpofu taking two of the four wickets to go down.
