Shumba, Makoni, Ndlovu score fifties as Tuskers survive wobble
Rhinos – 229 all out in 73 overs (Prince Masvaure 51, Johnathan Campbell 39, Bright Matsiwe 37; Ainsley Ndlovu 3/48, Milton Shumba 2/8, Steve Chimhamhiwa 2/50)
Tuskers – 361-9 in 88 overs (Milton Shumba 90, Tanunurwa Makoni 83, Ainsley Ndlovu 61; Johnathan Campbell 3/65, Brandon Mavuta 3/96, Carl Mumba 2/43)
Day 2 – Stumps: Tuskers lead by 132 runs
A fine innings of 90 from Milton Shumba, with excellent support from Ainsley Ndlovu and Steve Chimhamhiwa, rescued Tuskers from a slump and brought them an impressive lead of 132 runs, with a wicket in hand, by the close of play at Old Hararians Sports Club on Thursday.
The overnight score for Tuskers was one run for one wicket, the run having been scored by Tanu Makoni, his partner being Craig Ervine.
Makoni from the start showed the same confidence and form he had shown when he scored his maiden first-class century against Southern Rocks last weekend, but Ervine did not last long, being caught at the wicket off Carl Mumba for eight.
Brian Chari came in and played rather a cautious game on the whole while Makoni continued to dominate the bowling.
By lunch they had taken the score to 116 for two wickets, of which Makoni had scored 74 and Chari 25.
Soon after the break, though, Makoni fell to a catch by Nyasha Mayavo at the wicket off the bowling of Johnathan Campbell for 83; 137 for three.
Two runs later he was followed back to the pavilion by Chari, out to a return catch by Brandon Mavuta for 36.
Shumba was in now, but there was little proven batting to follow.
With Allan Chigoma caught off Mavuta for three, and Clive Madande and Ernest Masuku both caught off Campbell for 10, the score slumped to 173 for seven.
However, Ndlovu finally displayed some prowess with the bat at first-class level, as he came in and attacked the bowling with gusto, and with such success that by the tea interval he had actually overtaken his illustrious partner.
Tuskers at the interval were 223 for seven wickets, with Shumba on 35 and Ndlovu 38.
After tea Tuskers went into the lead, and Ndlovu galloped to his first-ever fifty in first-class cricket, off 64 balls.
The pair put up 107 for the eighth wicket, turning the game around, before Mavuta broke the stand with a successful lbw appeal against Ndlovu, who had made 61 off 86 balls; 280 for eight.
Chimhamhiwa provided more good support for Shumba and they took the score past 300.
This wicket added 74, taking the score to 354 before Shumba, on 90, was caught off Trevor Gwandu.
When bad light stopped play Tuskers had reached 361 for nine wickets, with Chimhamhiwa on 35 and Charlton Tshuma on four, a lead of 132 runs over Rhinos.
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Mountaineers – 330 all out in 114.4 overs (Donald Tiripano 116, Victor Nyauchi 71, Wellington Masakadza 48; Keith Jaure 3/41, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/82, Chamu Chibhabha 1/14)
Alliance Health Eagles – 172-6 in 63 overs (Chamu Chibhabha 62, Wessly Madhevere 35*, Keith Jaure 25*; Wellington Masakadza 3/51, Tendai Chatara 2/44, Victor Nyauchi 1/17)
Day 2 – Stumps: Alliance Health Eagles trail by 158 runs
A great eighth-wicket partnership of 142 by Donald Tiripano and Victor Nyauchi took Mountaineers to a good total of 330 against Alliance Health Eagles in their Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
Mountaineers began the day with the score of 232 for seven wickets – Tiripano had 76 and Nyauchi 23.
Both batsmen showed aggressive intent from the start and the partnership, already worth 60, continued to grow.
Tiripano reached the third first-class century of his career off 220 balls, while Nyauchi soon afterwards recorded his first fifty at this level after facing 94 balls.
The Eagles team was sorely troubled by this large partnership, which eventually reached the unusually high number for the eighth wicket of 142, before Tiripano on 116 drove a ball from Tapiwa Mufudza to Brighton Zhawi at mid-off and was caught.
His heroic innings lasted over five hours during which he faced 265 balls and hit 16 fours.
Nyauchi now dropped his supporting role and hit out, slamming two fours and then being run out by Tino Mutombodzi in the following over.
He had scored 71 off 118 balls with nine fours and a six, and demonstrated how much he has improved his batting this season.
The innings ended two overs later as one Brighton dismissed another, Zhawi winning an lbw appeal against Chipungu, who did not score.
With Tendai Chatara not out on six, the innings closed for 330, a remarkable improvement after the first six wickets had gone down for 80.
Keith Jaure with three wickets for 41 was the best of the bowlers, while Mufudza took two.
Lunch was taken after the last wicket fell, and then Eagles began their innings with Gareth Chirawu and Kudzai Maunze against the bowling of Chatara and Nyauchi.
Chirawu was quickly out after lunch, caught by Timycen Maruma off Nyauchi for 10; 15 for one wicket.
The afternoon session saw some steady batting, with only the wicket of Maunze going down, caught at the wicket off Wellington Masakadza for 23.
The score at tea was 97 for two wickets, with Chamu Chibhabha on 48 and Regis Chakabva 12.
Chakabva was not his usual enterprising self, and after tea he was soon bowled by Chatara for 13, which took him 51 balls.
Tino Mutombodzi struggled for 14 balls, but was unable to score before Chatara had him lbw, and in the following over Masakadza bowled Chibhabha for 62, scored off 129 balls.
The collapse continued, as Tinashe Kamunhukamwe was lbw to Masakadza second ball, and Eagles were suddenly in trouble at 112 for six wickets.
Slow batting had allowed the bowlers to get on top, and now Wessly Madhevere and Jaure decided the answer was positive play.
They put on 60 runs together without being separated by the close, when Madhevere had 35 and Jaure 25, and at 172 for six, Eagles were still 158 runs behind.
