Rhinos get season off to great start with victory over Mountaineers

Rhinos – 290 and 184 all out in 62 overs (Prince Masvaure 40, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 30, Brandon Mavuta 28*; Brighton Chipungu 5/58, Wellington Masakadza 2/44, Tendai Chatara 2/44)

Mountaineers – 159 and 248 all out in 72 overs (Tony Munyonga 90, Victor Nyauchi 37, Kevin Kasuza 22; Ryan Burl 4/82, Brandon Mavuta 3/98, Tafara Chingwara 2/21)

Rhinos won by 67 runs

Despite a heroic innings of 90 from Tony Munyonga, Mountaineers went down to Rhinos by 67 runs in their Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club on Monday morning.

Mountaineers began the day on 213 for seven wickets in their second innings, needing their last three wickets to score another 103 runs for an unlikely victory.

Munyonga was still batting with 71, partnered by Victor Nyauchi with 29, and their partnership had already added 64 runs.

The pair began the morning steadily, but in the fourth over Munyonga went after the bowling of Brandon Mavuta and scored 13 off an over from him, including a six and a four.

In Mavuta’s next over, Nyauchi decided to join the party and hit him for a four, taking the score to 240.

But then Mavuta struck back, as Nyauchi hit the next delivery to be caught by Takudzwanashe Kaitano, and the great partnership was broken.

They put on 91 runs together, of which Nyauchi had made 37.

The end then came quickly, as in the next over Munyonga, possibly having his concentration broken by the loss of his partner, was out lbw to Ryan Burl for 90, his highest first-class score.

It was a magnificent fighting innings, lasting over three-and-a-half hours as he faced 157 balls and hit four sixes and six fours.

At 241 for nine and the last two men in, Mountaineers were now doomed to defeat.

Tendai Chatara scored six runs quickly, but the last man, Brighton Chipungu, was soon out lbw to Prince Masvaure without scoring and the match was over after about half-an-hour’s play this morning.

Again the spin bowlers enjoyed the most success, with Burl taking four wickets for 82 runs and Mavuta three for 98, while the seamer Tafara Chingwara took two wickets.