Tuskers – 118 and 67 all out in 44 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 29, Ainsley Ndlovu 8, Tafara Mupariwa 8; Antum Naqvi 5/28, Maaz Khan 3/10, Trevor Gwandu 2/16)
Rhinos – 172 and 16-0 in 3.5 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 8*, Ben Curran 7*)
Rhinos won by 10 wickets
The match had appeared finely poised overnight, with Rhinos in deep trouble at 82 for seven in reply to Tuskers’ modest 118.
But opener Kaitano, unbeaten on 30 at stumps, proved the difference.
He found a determined ally in Trevor Gwandu and together they transformed the contest with a gritty ninth-wicket stand worth 77.
Gwandu’s dogged 27 provided the perfect foil for Kaitano, who battled through 137 deliveries for a vital 79, striking nine fours and a six before Ali Khan finally bowled him.
Their resistance pushed Rhinos to 172 all out, earning a crucial 54-run first-innings lead.
Ainsley Ndlovu and Muslim Khan finished with three wickets apiece.
Tuskers’ response in the second innings, however, was nothing short of a collapse.
Only opener Nkosana Mpofu showed any fight, top-scoring with 29 as the rest of the line-up folded against Naqvi’s unrelenting discipline.
Mpofu was third out with the score on 40, and once he departed, Naqvi and Maaz Khan – who chipped in with three wickets – ripped through the remainder.
Set a mere 14 to win, Rhinos wasted no time.
Kaitano and Ben Curran knocked off the target without fuss, sealing a resounding two-day triumph.
Mountaineers – 113 all out in 43.5 overs (Alistair Frost 33*, Joylord Gumbie 25, Shafi Ullah 18; Kashif Afridi 3/15, Tanaka Chivanga 3/24, Faraz Akram 2/8)
Eagles – 334-7 in 91.2 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 175, Faraz Akram 52, Kudzai Maunze 50; Tendai Chatara 3/70, Definate Mawadzi 1/30, Victor Nyauchi 1/52)
Day 2 – Stumps: Eagles lead by 221 runs
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe produced the innings of his career on Saturday, a superb 175 at Harare Sports Club, as Eagles tightened their grip on their Logan Cup clash against Mountaineers heading into day three.
Eagles resumed on 115 for three, with Kamunhukamwe on 44 and Wessly Madhevere on six.
But Tendai Chatara struck early, removing Madhevere for 14 and Ryan Kamwemba for four to leave Eagles wobbling at 147 for five.
Skipper Faraz Akram then joined Kamunhukamwe and the pair rebuilt impressively, adding 122 for the sixth.
Akram made a polished 52 before Victor Nyauchi dismissed him.
Alex Falao offered steady support as Kamunhukamwe marched past his century and eclipsed his previous best of 159.
His marathon effort eventually ended when he was caught behind off Definate Mawadzi for a majestic 175 off 245 balls, including 20 fours and three sixes.
Moments after his bad light forced an early close.
Eagles ended the day with a commanding 221-run lead and three wickets still in hand.
