Naqvi stars as Rhinos finally end Eagles’ unbeaten run

Rhinos – 350-6 in 50 overs (Antum Naqvi 146, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 84, Tarisai Musakanda 33; Faraz Akram 4/75, Tanaka Chivanga 2/52)

Eagles – 305-9 in 50 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 50, Rodney Mupfudza 50*, Tadiwanashe Marumani 48; Brandon Mavuta 4/60, Antum Naqvi 2/47, Ronald Masocha 1/30)

Rhinos won by 45 runs

Rhinos, put in to bat, soon lost Prince Masvaure for seven, but that only brought Naqvi to the crease.

For a while Naqvi was rather overshadowed by Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who played a dashing innings of 84 off 94 balls, with a six and 11 fours.

The pair put on 134 for the second wicket in 21 overs before Kaitano was caught low down at mid-off, which brought in Tarisai Musakanda.

It is not often that the aggressive Musakanda is comprehensively outscored at the crease, but that happened in this match, as Naqvi went on full attack and flayed the bowling all over the field.

They added 119 for the third wicket in 12 overs, of which Musakanda scored 33 off 34 balls before he was caught at long-off.

Naqvi was now well past his century, and was eventually out in the 47th over, his 146 coming off 117 balls and including four sixes and 19 fours.

The score was then 312 for five, and this brought in Tashinga Musekiwa, who speedily ran up 25 off 12 balls.

Ben Curran was not out with 18 as the innings closed at 350 for six wickets.

Faraz Akram had taken four good wickets, but they had cost him 75 runs.

Chasing their big target, Eagles were given a flying start by Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, who smashed 50 runs off only 28 balls, with three sixes and five fours, in a first-wicket partnership of 71 in nine overs with Larvet Masunda (34).

Eagles kept themselves in the hunt as Tadiwanashe Marumani hit 48 off 39 balls and Craig Ervine 32 off 23.

And when Ervine was out at 189 for four in the 27th over Eagles were still well in the hunt.

Then Naqvi came into the picture again – in quick succession he dismissed Kudzai Maunze (23) and Wessly Madhevere (9) to make the score 202 for six.

Four overs later Brandon Mavuta took two wickets with successive deliveries to leave Eagles reeling on 225 for eight in the 34th over.

Rodney Mupfudza, with 50 not out, and Tapiwa Mufudza, who made 36 before he was run out in the final over, fought hard, but the required run rate was now too great for them.

Apart from Naqvi’s two crucial wickets, Mavuta took the bowling honours with four for 60 in his 10 overs.

Tuskers – 282 all out in 49.5 overs (Brian Chari 113, Milton Shumba 77, Adrian Mupembe 16; Trevor Gwandu 5/72, Blessing Muzarabani 1/38, Roy Kaia 1/54)

Southern Rocks – 283-5 in 47 overs (Roy Kaia 82, Richmond Mutumbami 69, Tafadzwa Tsiga 44*; Mgcini Dube 1/27, Milton Shumba 1/30, Ainsley Ndlovu 1/42)

Southern Rocks won by five wickets

Brian Chari made a brilliant return to form with a century at Masvingo Sports Club on Sunday, but it was not enough for Tuskers to beat Southern Rocks, who eventually won this Pro50 Championship match by five wickets with three overs in hand.

The Tuskers innings, after they had been sent in, owed everything to the superb third-wicket partnership of 185 between Chari and Milton Shumba.

Chari arrived at the crease after the first over, when Nkosana Mpofu retired hurt.

He was quickly under way, despite losing two partners by the time the score was 30.

Then Shumba arrived, and the two of them flayed the bowling in their great stand, which lasted 32 overs.

Chari was the dominant partner, reviving memories of his most glorious days, as he ran to 113 off 133 balls, before he was finally bowled by Roy Kaia to end the partnership at 215 for three after 40 overs.

He hit six sixes and nine fours with his most powerful strokes.

Shumba stayed to make 77 off 95 balls, with nine fours, but none of the later batters could get going – which proved to be a fatal failing – and Tuskers were all out for 282 with one ball remaining.

Trevor Gwandu took five wickets, besides achieving a run-out, but he was expensive, his 8.5 overs costing 72 runs.

The Kaia cousins, Innocent and Roy, did well for Rocks early on after the loss of Brian Mudzinganyama for three, adding 77 for the second wicket before Innocent went for 37.

Later Roy and Richmond Mutumbami gave Rocks an advantage with their fourth-wicket partnership of 78 in 12 overs, Roy eventually making 82 and Mutumbami a dashing 69 off 55 balls, with three sixes and seven fours.

He was out at 226 for five, when another 57 were needed off 12 overs.

Tuskers could still have won had they been able to take wickets, but the victory was completed without further loss, Tafadzwa Tsiga scoring 44 and William Mashinge 26, both not out.

Ainsley Ndlovu was the best of the bowlers, although he only managed to take the wicket of Mutumbami – his 10 overs cost only 42 runs.

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