Alliance Health Eagles – 211 all out in 45.1 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 79, Faraz Akram 40, Tapiwa Mufudza 26; Brandon Mavuta 7/41, Johnathan Campbell 1/22, Carl Mumba 1/32)

Rhinos – 95-5 in 23.3 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 20, Prince Masvaure 19, Johnathan Campbell 15; Tapiwa Mufudza 3/18, Kadeem Alleyne 1/3, Tanaka Chivanga 1/31)

Alliance Health Eagles won by 21 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method)

Tadiwanashe Marumani (79 runs) and Tapiwa Mufudza (three wickets) were the key players for Alliance Health Eagles as they turned the tables on Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club on Monday, winning the return Pro50 Championship match between the teams by 21 runs on Duckworth-Lewis.

This was despite a brilliant bowling performance from Brandon Mavuta, who took seven good wickets for Rhinos.

Eagles, put in to bat, had a very patchy innings.

They enjoyed a brisk but brief opening partnership of 32 until in the sixth over Nick Welch (13) drove a catch to Takudzwanashe Kaitano at mid-off from Carl Mumba’s bowling.

His partner Marumani was a superb form, though, and as long as he was in a succession of failures by his partners was not as serious as it might have been.

He alone could handle the fine leg-spin bowling of Mavuta, who picked off his partners one by one at regular intervals.

Kudzai Maunze was caught at point by Mike Chinouya off Mavuta for two, while Chamu Chibhabha was beaten by the spin and stumped for six.

Six wickets were down for 117, but just as Faraz Akram arrived at the crease and began batting with more determination, Marumani tried a reverse sweep off Mavuta and popped a simple catch to Mumba at point.

He scored 79 off only 62 balls, with four sixes and nine fours.

Akram built a sturdy innings while Tanaka Chivanga became Mavuta’s final victim at 141 for eight before his overs expired.

With Mavuta now out of the picture, Mufudza could settle in and build the largest partnership of the innings, 61 for the ninth wicket with Akram.

Even so, they were unable to use up the full 50 overs, as at 202 Akram was caught at long-on off Johnathan Campbell’s bowling for 40, off 71 balls.

Mufudza was last out, run out for 26, and the final total was 211, scored off 45.1 overs.

Mavuta quite dominated the bowling, taking seven wickets for 41 runs.

The pitch continued to help the spinners, as Mufudza had a big part to play in Rhinos’ reply.

They began well, with Kaitano scoring 20 and Prince Masvaure 19 as they put up an opening partnership of 39.

But when Masvaure was out the score was 60 for four in the 19th over.

Campbell hit a quick 15, while Nyasha Mayavo batted more cautiously and was 13 not out when lightning persuaded the umpires to take the players from the field at 95 for five in the 24th over.

Rain brought the match to an end at that point without resumption, and it was clear that at this point in time Rhinos were at a considerable disadvantage.

Mufudza was mainly responsible for the trouble with three for 18 in eight overs.

Duckworth-Lewis was brought into operation, and the result was that Eagles were declared winners by 21 runs.

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Mountaineers – 239 all out in 38.1 overs (Shingi Masakadza 49, Spencer Magodo 46, Tinashe Muchawaya 32; Nigel Mupurura 4/47, Sydney Murombo 2/41, William Mashinge 2/42)

Southern Rocks – 119-9 in 20.5 overs (Roy Kaia 34, Blessed Muzite 31, Cephas Zhuwao 14; Vincent Masekesa 3/21, Victor Nyauchi 2/24, Donald Tiripano 1/12) 

Mountaineers won by 52 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method)

A blistering innings of 49 by Shingi Masakadza was at the head of a fine revival by Mountaineers which led to a Duckworth-Lewis victory over Southern Rocks in a Pro50 Championship match at Mutare Sports Club on Monday.

After a late start due to overnight rain, Rocks put Mountaineers in to bat and soon had them in trouble.

Within three overs both openers, Kevin Kasuza and Clive Chitumba, were out for a single apiece, with the score two for two.

Joylord Gumbie, playing cautiously, made nine before he was bowled by Nigel Mupurura, while a more aggressive PJ Moor perished the same way for 25, making the score 41 for four wickets.

There followed a determined partnership of 57 between Timycen Maruma, who was out for 30, and Spencer Magodo, with 46.

The middle order scored well and aggressively, but lacked one player to break through and make the big score they really needed.

Donald Tiripano scored 36, while Tinashe Muchawaya got 32 off only 23 balls, with four sixes.

The most spectacular batting, though, came from Masakadza at number nine, whose powerful hitting brought him 49 off only 25 balls, with five sixes and two fours.

The whole innings was very entertaining, with 239 runs being scored, all out, off only 38.1 overs.

Mupurura was the most successful bowler with four wickets for 47 runs, while there were two each for Sydney Murombo and William Mashinge.

Rain meant that the target for Rocks was adjusted, setting them 185 to win in 26 overs.

This time round it was not Zhuwao’s day, although he hit three fours and raced to 14 off seven balls, but was then caught by Maruma off Victor Nyauchi – 23 for one in the third over.

Most of his team-mates tried to emulate his hitting, though with unfortunate results, as the fourth wicket fell for 44 in only the seventh over: Ben Curran eight, Brian Mudzinganyama 11 and Tafadzwa Tsiga three.

Blessed Muzite and Roy Kaia then put on a stand, and at 98 in the 15th over Muzite was bowled by Tiripano for 31 off 34 balls.

William Mashinge and Tendai Chisoro soon followed without scoring, out to successive deliveries from Vincent Masekesa, and Rocks stumbled to 99 for seven – still only in the 16th over.

Kaia was still there, batting well, and he tried to hit out as the tail collapsed about him, but he was eventually caught by Moor off Masekesa for 34, scored off 37 balls, the next ball after the run-out of Mutsamba.

At 119 for nine in 20.5 overs, the umpires took the players from the field due to bad light and Mountaineers were declared the winners by 52 runs.

Masekesa bowled well to take three wickets for 21 runs in his five overs, while Nyauchi had two for 24.

2022/23 PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE

Alliance Health Eagles – 315 all out in 49.5 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 98, Nick Welch 90, Kudzai Maunze 35; Sydney Murombo 3/48, Cephas Zhuwao 3/57, Cuthbert Musoko 2/39)

Southern Rocks – 241 all out in 48.1 overs (Tafadzwa Tsiga 57, William Mashinge 51, Richmond Mutumbami 39; Tawanda Dzikiti 5/67, Tanaka Chivanga 3/24, Marshal Takodza 1/35)

Alliance Health Eagles won by 74 runs

A dynamic opening partnership of 180 off 29 overs by Tadiwanashe Marumani and Nick Welch gave Alliance Health Eagles such a wonderful send-off in their Pro50 Championship match against Southern Rocks in Masvingo on Thursday that they were able to overwhelm the home side by 75 runs.

Rocks on winning the toss put Eagles in to bat, and soon had good reason to regret it.

Welch returned from Northamptonshire in England to open the innings with Marumani, and the pair put the Rocks bowling to the sword.

After 10 overs they had 44 runs on the board, and put up the 100 without loss in the 19th, with the batters running neck and neck.

Marumani reached his 50 off 56 balls, and later that same over Welch joined him after facing 57.

As they entered the sixties Marumani began to pull in front, racing towards three figures, but unfortunately he reached 98 and was then caught off the bowling of Cephas Zhuwao, having scored his runs off 96 balls with three sixes and 10 fours.

This magnificent partnership had put on 180 runs in almost 29 overs, and Welch at this stage had 71.

Welch soon followed, also caught off Zhuwao for 90 at 215 for two – 100 balls with a six and 10 fours – so it was disappointing that neither of these batters reached the centuries they deserved.

In the effort to score quickly, Chamu Chibhabha was out for six, also to Zhuwao, and Marshal Takodza for one, so at 233 for four Eagles now had to take care their batting did not implode.

Kudzai Maunze played well for 35 off 30 balls, and the middle order scored usefully, Hamid Ali making 26 and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 15 off only 10 balls.

Wickets fell quickly at the death in the final push for runs, but Faraz Akram played some superb shots, scoring 25 off 14 balls with a six and three fours.

Eagles were unfortunate that he didn’t get to face the final over, when Sydney Murombo finished off the innings in five balls for no runs, giving an all-out total of 315.

Murombo took three for 48, but pride of place should go to Zhuwao, who put an end to the early run rampage with his three valuable wickets for 57 runs.

There were also two late wickets for Cuthbert Musoko for 48 runs.

For Rocks, a difficult task became virtually hopeless when the third over of the innings, bowled by Tawanda Dzikiti, saw the dismissals of Zhuwao (2) and Ben Curran first ball, both caught by Maunze, making the score 12 for two.

At 35, Brian Mudzinganyama became Dzikiti’s third victim when he was caught by Tapiwa Mufudza for 20.

After that Rocks seemed to accept that victory was out of the question and settled in to build themselves at least a respectable score.

There were fluent fifties from Tafadzwa Tsiga, 57 off 74 balls, and William Mashinge, 61 off 62 balls, while Richmond Mutumbami, unexpectedly coming in low at number seven, scored 39 off 40 balls.

Just before Tsiga was out the score was 150 for three, with Blessing Muzite having temporarily retired hurt, but with 15 overs left to score 166 runs obviously no run chase could be attempted.

Muzite returned and made some runs with the aggressive Musoko (15 off eight balls), but both were out together as the last three wickets all went down for one run, leaving Rocks all out for 241.

Dzikiti finished with five wickets for 67 in 8.1 overs, a fine performance if rather expensive, and Chivanga, who took two of the last three wickets, three for 24 off eight overs.

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Mountaineers – 205 all out in 44.2 overs (PJ Moor 67, Tinashe Muchawaya 35, Victor Nyauchi 24*; Ernest Masuku 5/38, Ainsley Ndlovu 2/41, Shane Getkate 1/19)

Tuskers – 179 all out in 32.3 overs (Ainsley Ndlovu 42, Ernest Masuku 30, Tanunurwa Makoni 17; Tinashe Muchawaya 4/54, Shingi Masakadza 3/27, Donald Tiripano 1/18)

Mountaineers won by 26 runs

An outstanding innings of 67 from PJ Moor was in the end the main factor in a fine victory by 16 runs for Mountaineers, who inflicted the first defeat in the Pro50 Championship this season on Tuskers by 26 runs at Mutare Sports Club on Friday.

Moor was the only recognised batter to make a score for Mountaineers that proved to be a match-winner as Tuskers put in a very poor show in chasing what should have been a rather straightforward target of 204 to win.

The Mountaineers innings never really took off from the start.

They opened with Kevin Kasuza and Clive Chitumba, who put on 15 runs together before in the fourth over Chitumba was run out by Ainsley Ndlovu for eight.

This brought in Moor, but he soon lost Kasuza, who was caught off Ernest Masuku for six at 22 for two.

In his next over Masuku had Timycen Maruma caught at the wicket for five – 29 for three.

Moor faced 16 balls, off which he scored only a single, but he suddenly opened up and hit Sheu Musekwa for two successive sixes.

Spencer Magodo began positively, making 14 off 11 balls, before he drove a catch to extra cover to make the score 60 for four.

Donald Tiripano batted quite carefully to score 13 off 28 balls before he was out to a return catch by Ndlovu, who also dismissed Shingi Masakadza for eight.

The score was now 111 for six and only Moor of the recognised batters remained, selecting his strokes well and hitting hard when he got the chance.

Victor Nyauchi came in next and wisely played a defensive game, but Moor became rather bogged down after reaching a fine fifty off 62 balls.

He was finally given out lbw to Nkosana Mpofu for 67 off 80 balls, having done an excellent job in keeping the Mountaineers innings afloat – the score was now 140 for seven after 34 overs.

The innings received new life, however, from Tinashe Muchawaya, who realised that nothing could be gained from defensive play and hit out boldly, striking Ndlovu for a four and two sixes in four deliveries.

He raced to 35 off 19 balls before he was well caught by Brian Chari at midwicket off Masuku, the score now being 191 for eight in the 39th over.

Masuku then had Vincent Masekesa and John Masara caught at the wicket for one and seven respectively to end the innings for 205 in the 45th over, with Nyauchi not out with 24.

He finished with the fine figures of five wickets for 38 runs in 8.2 overs.

Ndlovu was the best of the other bowlers with two for 41.

Tuskers had what looked like a fairly easy target, especially for a team with four wins out of four, but they soon found themselves in trouble.

No great haste was necessary, but Mpofu (6) and Tanu Makoni (17) were both out trying to hit aerial shots and instead giving catches.

Two wickets fell in the eighth over, as first Taffy Mupariwa (11) edged a catch to the keeper in trying to drive an overpitched ball outside the off stump, and then Shane Getkate (4), attempting to flick a ball to leg, lobbed a catch to midwicket.

The score was now 46 for four, and Muchawaya had the remarkable figures of four for 26 off four overs.

Chari (7) and Alvin Chiradza did not last long and Tuskers were deep in trouble with six men out for 73 runs.

Ndlovu hit out boldly and with more discrimination than his predecessors as he scored 42 runs off 42 balls, with Masuku now giving him good support.

He was out at 145 for seven in the 25th over and Tuskers were not out of it yet as Tanatswa Bechani played a solid role while Masuku now took the lead.

They managed to make the score 173 for seven, with 28 added and 34 still needed.

Then came the crucial blow, as Masuku lost his judgment and aimed a wild swing at a ball from Masekesa, to be bowled for 30.

It took Masakadza three balls in his next over to finish the match as he removed Musekiwa for four and Charlton Tshuma without scoring, leaving Bechani not out with a well-played 17.

The total was 179 and Tuskers had fought back hard, but could not quite make up for the overconfidence of their top order.

Muchawaya’s figures were now four for 54 off seven overs, which were rather fortuitous, but did the job, while Masakadza had three for 27.

2022/23 PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE

Mountaineers – 249-6 in 50 overs (PJ Moor 70, Timycen Maruma 50, Spencer Magodo 48*; Prince Masvaure 2/28, Carl Mumba 1/23, Neville Madziva 1/35)

Rhinos – 249 all out in 49.3 overs (Nyasha Mayavo 69, Johnathan Campbell 44, Tashinga Musekiwa 38; Shingi Masakadza 3/29, Tinashe Muchawaya 2/27, Victor Nyauchi 1/41)

Match tied

Excellent fifties by PJ Moor and Nyasha Mayavo were the leading features of a thrilling Pro50 Championship match between Rhinos and Mountaineers which finished as a tie at Kwekwe Sports Club on Friday.

Both teams totalled 249 runs, although Mountaineers lost only six wickets while Rhinos were all out.

Rhinos put their opponents in to bat on winning the toss, and struck in the third over, when Carl Mumba claimed the wicket of Kevin Kasuza, caught at the wicket for one.

There followed a fine partnership between Clive Chitumba, captaining Mountaineers and opening their batting in this match, and Moor.

They took the score to 78 before Chitumba was caught at long-off by Mumba off Brandon Mavuta for 37, scored off 49 balls.

Moor found another good partner in Timycen Maruma, and the pair took the score to 158 in the 34th over before Moor was caught by Mavuta at midwicket from a miscued pull off the bowling of Neville Madziva for 70 – he faced 95 balls and hit two sixes and six fours.

Maruma soon reached his own fifty, but was then run out by Tashinga Musekiwa, having hit seven fours off 63 balls.

The impetus of the innings was rather spoiled when Donald Tiripano (5) and Shingi Masakadza (1) both went cheaply, making the score 202 for six in the 45th over.

But Spencer Magodo was batting well and Tinashe Muchawaya gave him good support, and they stayed together until the innings closed at 249 for six.

Magodo made 48 off 56 balls, unfortunately unable to reach his fifty, while Muchawaya had 21 off 15 balls.

Rhinos did well to keep the total down to 249, and their most effective bowler was Masvaure, who took the wickets of Tiripano and Masakadza while conceding only 28 runs in his 10 overs.

Rhinos did not make a good start to their innings, though.

In the third over they lost the wicket of Takudzwanashe Kaitano, caught by Tiripano off the bowling of Victor Nyauchi for eight.

Masvaure struggled to score only five runs off 33 balls before being caught at the wicket off Muchawaya as he tried to glance the ball down the leg side, which made it 25 for two in the 10th over.

Charles Kunje (24) and Tarisai Musakanda (31) quickened the scoring rate and took the score to 53 in the 14th over before Kunje was bowled by Muchawaya.

Musakanda played a disciplined innings and with Mayavo took the score to 107 before he left, lbw to Masakadza.

Rhinos still looked to have the worse of the position, but then came the partnership that tilted the balance, as Johnathan Campbell joined Mayavo and the pair played the bowling superbly in a stand that was worth 79 runs in less than 14 overs.

It was finally broken at 189 in the 39th over, by a piece of wretched luck that in retrospect probably cost Rhinos the victory.

Mayavo drove a ball back down the pitch to Tiripano, who accidentally deflected it on to the stumps at his end where Campbell, backing up, was run out for a fine 44 off 49 balls.

In the following over Madziva was also run out, though in a more orthodox way, without scoring, and Rhinos had lost their advantage.

They appeared to be doomed to defeat when in the 44th over Mayavo’s superb innings came to an end, as he perhaps regrettably chose a good delivery from Masakadza to swing his bat at, and was bowled for 69 off 89 balls, having hit seven fours.

In Mumba and Mavuta, Rhinos had two useful batters but both failed with scores of eight and two respectively.

However, Musekiwa was playing a fine fighting innings at the other end, as he was joined by the last man, Mike Chinouya, at 225 for nine – 25 runs still needed off 4.1 overs.

Chinouya gallantly held up his end for five balls and scored a single, while Musekiwa farmed the bowling skilfully.

They went into the last over, given to Tiripano, needing another 11 runs for victory.

Musekiwa smashed the first ball past mid-off for four and then swung the second over long-on for a huge six, levelling the scores.

However, Tiripano bowled the next ball full and straight, beating Musekiwa as he played forward, and was given out lbw for a magnificent 38, which came off 36 balls and contained two sixes and three fours.

It was a wonderful finish to an excellent match in which the balance swung frequently.

Masakadza, showing a return to bowling form, had the excellent figures for Mountaineers of three wickets for 29 off his 10 overs, while Muchawaya, much more expensive, had two for 27 off four overs.

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Southern Rocks – 195-9 in 50 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 50, William Mashinge 30, Tendai Chisoro 28; Ainsley Ndlovu 2/24, Nkosana Mpofu 2/27, Sheunopa Musekwa 1/14)

Tuskers – 198-6 in 35.1 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 69, Brian Chari 30, Ainsley Ndlovu 28*; William Mashinge 2/18, Dylan Hondo 1/24, Tendai Chisoro 1/27)

Tuskers won by four wickets

Nkosana Mpofu put in a brilliant all-round performance as Tuskers completed their third successive victory in the Pro50 Championship match, defeating Southern Rocks by four wickets at Bulawayo Athletic Club on Friday.

Tuskers, top of the standings after two victories over Alliance Health Eagles last weekend, won the toss and put Rocks in to bat.

Cephas Zhuwao opened the innings with Brian Mudzinganyama and the pair put on 71 for the first wicket.

Mudzinganyama took most of the bowling but did not find his fluent form – he faced 52 balls for only 21 runs before he was first out, caught at the wicket by Alvin Chiradza off Mpofu.

Zhuwao followed him only the next over, caught by Ernest Masuku off Sheu Musekwa for exactly 50 – he hit two sixes and six fours.

These wickets triggered a middle-order slide for Rocks, with Ben Curran (9), Richmond Mutumbami (9) and Tafadzwa Tsiga (7) all out in three successive overs to Mpofu and Ainsley Ndlovu.

The top five batters were thus out with 104 on the board in the 23rd over.

William Mashinge led a revival, helped first by Blessed Muzite (13) and then by Tendai Chisoro, who attacked the bowling while Mashinge consolidated.

Mashinge was eventually run out by Masuku for 30 off 70 balls, and Chisoro soon followed for 28 off 27 balls, making the score 174 for eight in the 46th over.

The last three men did their best, but after their 50 overs Rocks could manage a score of only 195 for nine wickets.

These wickets were shared among six bowlers, with two each for Mpofu and Ndlovu.

The latter was the most economical of them, bowling his 10 overs for only 24 runs and the valuable wickets of Curran and Tsiga.

This left Tuskers with a comparatively easy target for victory.

Tuskers fielded two Ireland internationals as their overseas players in this match, James McCollum and Shane Getkate, but the former, who opened the batting with Mpofu, was out lbw to Chisoro without scoring in the first over.

A good partnership followed between Mpofu and Brian Chari, who took the score to 60 in the 11th over before Chari was bowled by Mashinge for 30, scored off 34 balls.

Chiradza made 11, and Mpofu was eventually run out for 69, scored off 68 balls with a six and 10 fours, at 126 for four in the 23rd over.

Tuskers had no problem maintaining the required run rate, but wickets were falling, with Masuku going for 10 and Getkate for 23.

After 30 overs the score was 159 for six, with the last four wickets still needing to make 37 runs for victory.

That proved to be no problem for the seventh-wicket pair, however, as Ndlovu and Tanu Makoni polished off the runs within six overs.

Ndlovu finished with 28 and Makoni 19 as Tuskers cantered home to their third victory.

Mashinge was the most successful of the bowlers, taking two wickets for 18 runs, although he was given only five overs.

Dylan Hondo again proved economical, bowling his overs for only 24 runs and one wicket.

2022/23 PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE

Tuskers – 194 all out in 44.1 overs (Tanunurwa Makoni 64, Alvin Chiradza 58, Ainsley Ndlovu 14; Tapiwa Mufudza 4/26, Hamid Ali 3/21, Kudzai Maunze 2/44)

Alliance Health Eagles – 151 all out in 33.4 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 34, Chamu Chibhabha 21, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 19; Tanatswa Bechani 4/27, Sheunopa Musekwa 3/24, Ernest Masuku 2/43)

Tuskers won by 43 runs

A fine innings of 64 by Tanunurwa Makoni and an incisive spell of pace bowling from Sheu Musekwa were the main factors in Tuskers’ 43-run victory over Alliance Health Eagles in the 2022/23 season’s opening Pro50 Championship match at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Eagles won the toss and put Tuskers in to bat.

Tuskers would have been in trouble without Makoni, who held the early batting together despite the early loss of Nkosana Mpofu for nine and Brian Chari for five.

When Allan Chigoma went for 10 the score was 64 for three in the 17th over, but then wicket-keeper Alvin Chiradza came in and soon proved himself a worthy partner for Makoni.

The pair ensured a reasonable total with a fine partnership of 67 in 16 overs, with Makoni sailing past his fifty.

The balance was tipping in favour of Tuskers, until off-spinner Tapiwa Mufudza took a hand, first bowling out Makoni for 64, an innings which lasted 94 balls and contained a six and six fours.

Two balls later Mufudza bowled out the new man, Ernest Masuku, which made the score a much less healthy 131 for five.

Eagles were now on top, and wickets fell steadily as Chiradza looked in vain for another good partner.

At 193 he fell lbw himself to Hamid Ali for 58 (81 balls and three fours), and a few balls later the innings closed for 194.

Mufudza was certainly the pick of the bowlers, taking four wickets for only 26 runs in his 10 overs.

Ali sneaked in at the end with the last three wickets for 21 off only four overs and a ball, while Kudzai Maunze had two for 44.

This did not appear to be too difficult a task for Eagles, and they made a good start with Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (19) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (34) plundering the bowlers to make 59 for the first wicket in less than eight overs.

But then Musekwa began to turn the game around, first of all by having Marumani caught by Chari for 34, scored off only 27 balls with seven fours.

He then claimed two lbw decisions, Maunze for four and Kamunhukamwe for 19, and in two overs the score was 68 for three.

Chamu Chibhabha with 21 and Marshall Takodza with 18 made something of a recovery by taking the score to 102, but then Tanatswa Bechani dismissed them both, and six wickets were down for 109 in the 21st over.

Eagles had plenty of time at their disposal, and Ali and Faraz Akram revived their hopes with a stand of 32 together.

But then Akram for 13 and Ali for 19 were dismissed off consecutive deliveries, and with the score now 141 for eight, the match was gone.

The final total was 151, so in the end Eagles were unable to come close.

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Rhinos – 276 all out in 48.2 overs (Charles Kunje 88, Prince Masvaure 47*, Prince Masvaure 39; William Mashinge 3/77, Tendai Chisoro 2/37, Keith Jaure 2/64)

Southern Rocks – 278-6 in 45.3 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 99, Ben Curran 67*, Richmond Mutumbami 33; Neville Madziva 3/34, Brandon Mavuta 2/58, Charles Kunje 1/45)

Southern Rocks won by four wickets

A bruising innings of 99 by Cephas Zhuwao paved the way for Southern Rocks to chase down a target of 276 set by Rhinos and win their first Pro50 Championship match of the season by four wickets with all of 37 balls to spare at Masvingo Sports Club on Saturday.

Rhinos, put in to bat when Rocks won the toss, soon lost Takudzwanashe Kaitano for seven in the third over, caught at the wicket by Richmond Mutumbami off Keith Jaure.

Then came the first vital partnership of the innings, as Charles Kunje joined his captain Prince Masvaure at the wicket and the two batted superbly, putting on 85 runs in 13 overs before Masvaure was caught and bowled by the left-arm spinner Dylan Hondo for 39, scored off 44 balls.

Tarisai Musakanda went without scoring, but Nyasha Mayavo with 16 and Johnathan Campbell with 20 were useful partners for Kunje, who looked set for a century when he was caught off Brian Mudzinganyama for an excellent innings of 88.

He faced the same number of balls, hit a six and 14 fours, and when he was out Rhinos had reached the good score of 180 for five in the 33rd over.

At this point the innings rather trailed off, and it seemed Rhinos had wasted this advantage when the ninth wicket fell at 210 in the 39th over.

The last man, Trevor Gwandu, was hit on the head and forced to retire hurt, but Kuda Macheka came out to replace him as a concussion substitute.

The other batter, Brandon Mavuta, whose real batting form is too rarely seen, was joined by Macheka as the pair hit out freely against the Rocks bowlers.

Against expectations, they took the score right up to 276 before Macheka was finally bowled by William Mashinge for 15, scored off 19 balls, leaving Mavuta unbeaten on 47 from 38, with two sixes and three fours.

The two spin bowlers, Tendai Chisoro (two for 37) and Hondo (one for 36), both did a fine restraining job in their 10 overs each, but the seamers suffered some heavy punishment.

Mashinge took three wickets, which cost him all of 77 runs in eight overs and two balls, while Jaure had two for 64 off his 10 overs.

Rocks sent in the legendary Zhuwao to open their batting with Mudzinganyama and made a most confident start.

They were always on course for victory, as the score reached 79 in the 12th over when Mudzinganyama was caught by Kunje off Mavuta for 32, which took him 40 balls.

Ben Curran played a stabilising innings while Zhuwao roared past his fifty, and they had more than doubled the score when Zhuwao reached 99 and, with a century seemingly there for the taking, became too venturesome, and was lured out of his crease and stumped as he aimed for another hit to bring up his three figures.

His 99 came off 77 balls and, in typical fashion, contained five sixes and 11 fours – Rocks were 160 for two off 26 overs.

Mutumbami, recently a successful opener in the T10 club tournament, came in next and hit up 33 off 30 balls, adding 53 with the steady Curran, who played his supporting role very skilfully.

As Tafadzwa Tsiga (11) and Mashinge (22) came and went, Neville Madziva bowling successfully, Rhinos were never able to make a proper breakthrough, although two wickets fell on 273.

The end came in the 46th over, as Chisoro came in and hit a boundary to take the score to 278 for six wickets.

Curran saw the job through to the end, scoring 67 not out off 84 balls.

Madziva did some fine bowling to take three wickets for 34 runs, but he was only given seven overs.

The Rhinos spinners were not as economical as Rocks’ had been, but Mavuta took two wickets for 58 in his 10 overs.

Mountaineers – 307-9 in 50 overs (PJ Moor 76, Wellington Masakadza 66, Donald Tiripano 45; Dylan Hondo 4/25, Cuthbert Musoko 4/59, Roy Kaia 1/32)

Southern Rocks – 236 all out in 45.5 overs (Innocent Kaia 82, Sikandar Raza 76, Cephas Zhuwao 28; John Masara 4/43, Tony Munyonga 2/30, Wellington Masakadza 2/39)

Mountaineers won by 71 runs

Mountaineers clinched the Pro50 Championship title after defeating Southern Rocks by 71 runs in an exciting final played at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

PJ Moor and Kevin Kasuza gave Mountaineers the ideal start on winning the toss, as they put together a superb opening partnership of 126 in just over 20 overs.

Moor, back from injury, was in blistering form and attacked the bowling powerfully, taking advantage of the opening powerplay overs to reach fifty off only 26 balls.

He was particularly severe on the pace bowlers, but found it harder to get on top of the slower bowlers, especially Dylan Hondo, who bowled a superb spell of left-arm spin.

Moor, frustrated, finally went for a big hit, only to be caught on the midwicket boundary for 76, scored off 58 balls.

His brilliant innings included 12 fours and a six.

Hondo began a collapse that could have shattered the innings, as in quick succession he pulled off two return catches to dismiss Kasuza for 42 and Kudzai Sauramba for two.

He also had Timycen Maruma caught at slip second ball.

Mountaineers were now tottering on 132 for four in the 25th over, and the innings was at a crucial stage.

However, the middle order came good to rescue the innings.

Tony Munyonga led the way with 36 off 32 balls, with two sixes and three fours, before he was bowled by Roy Kaia at 179 for five.

Then came a magnificent partnership of 99 in 14 overs between Donald Tiripano, 45 off 58 balls, and Wellington Masakadza, 66 off 49 balls.

They took the score to 278, and after they and Shingi Masakadza all went in quick succession, some powerful blows from Victor Nyauchi, with 14 not out off eight balls, saw Mountaineers past the 300-run mark.

Their total after 50 overs was 307 for nine.

Amid this carnage, Hondo’s bowling figures shine out like a beacon – four wickets for only 25 runs in his 10 overs, which included three maidens.

Cuthbert Musoko also took four wickets, the last four to fall, but they cost him 59 runs off seven overs.

Sikandar Raza also bowled well for 42 runs off his 10 overs without taking a wicket.

Innocent Kaia opened the Rocks innings with Cephas Zhuwao, always a man to be feared in one-day cricket, against the bowling of Tendai Chatara and Nyauchi.

Zhuwao scored two singles off the first six balls he faced, like a dormant volcano, and then began his assault by hitting Chatara for six.

He followed with two fours off three deliveries from Nyauchi, and then came another six off Chatara.

To the immense relief of Mountaineers, though, Chatara caught him off the bowling of Nyauchi for 28 off 18 balls in the sixth over, with the score on 48.

Innocent Kaia, however, was able to score freely, and he was now partnered by Tadiwanashe Marumani, who scored 17 off 33 balls before being bowled by Munyonga at 102 for two in the 18th over.

Innocent Kaia reached his fifty off 60 balls, and his new partner, Raza, soon hit Munyonga for six.

The pair continued to build their partnership soundly and after 30 overs Rocks were well on course for a possible victory at 165 for two.

The partnership came to an end at 176, though, when Kaia retired hurt after suffering cramps on 76, and this proved to be the turning point of the match.

He was replaced by Brian Mudzinganyama, who immediately saw Raza reach his fifty off 46 balls.

Mudzinganyama did not last long, being caught and bowled by Wellington Masakadza for seven at 200 for three in the 36th over.

Another 108 runs were now needed in 14 overs, but there were still seven wickets in hand if Innocent Kaia was able to resume.

Roy Kaia now came to the crease, but scored only three before he was caught off Wellington Masakadza at 211 for four in the 39th over.

Two overs later the balance of the match shifted completely as Rocks suffered a bitter blow in the loss of Raza, who was caught by Moor off the leg-spinner John Masara for a fine 76.

He faced 71 balls, hitting two sixes and seven fours, and this vital wicket, at 217 for five in the 41st over and a run rate of almost 10 an over now, put Mountaineers right on top.

Innocent Kaia now returned to the crease, but he was soon out, caught by Maruma off Masara for 82 – altogether he faced 105 balls and hit a six and eight fours, and left with the score 228 for six in the 43rd over.

Without addition, Larvet Masunda was caught by Chatara off Munyonga for four, and Rocks were now without hope.

The end came quickly, as the tail collapsed and the team was all out for 236 in the 46th over.

When the pressure was on, they lost their last eight wickets for only 36 runs, and their last seven batters scored only 21 runs among them.

Masara, who did most of the cleaning up at the end, took four wickets for 43 runs in his 10 overs, while fellow spinners Wellington Masakadza and Munyonga took two each.

It was a fine victory for Mountaineers, and will do much to make up for their failure to win the Logan Cup this season.

After shining with both bat and ball in the final, Wellington Masakadza was voted the player of the match.

Ben Compton of Mountaineers was not available for the game but he had done enough during the round-robin stage of the one-day competition to earn the batter of the tournament accolade.

Sean Williams of Tuskers claimed the best bowler honours.

Raza was rewarded for his impressive all-round performances as he was named the Pro50 Championship player of the tournament.