Eagles, Rhinos pull off close victories in Pro50 thrillers

Eagles – 255 all out in 47.5 overs (Kudzai Maunze 65, Wessly Madhevere 48, Faraz Akram 31; Kudakwashe Macheka 4/36, Keith Jaure 3/36, Trevor Gwandu 2/50)

Southern Rocks – 249 all out in 44.3 overs (Keith Jaure 43, Harmless Kaia 42, Richmond Mutumbami 29*; Tanaka Chivanga 3/28, Tapiwa Mufudza 3/36, Alex Russell 3/58)

Eagles gained by six runs

Two deliveries from Tanaka Chivanga enabled Eagles to grab victory from the jaws of defeat of their thrilling Pro50 Championship match towards Southern Rocks at Takashinga Cricket Membership on Friday.

In an thrilling end to this 2023/24 season opener, Rocks, responding to the Eagles rating of 255 all out, reached 249 with eight wickets down and a fantastic partnership in operation, when Chivanga abruptly ended the sport by having Keith Jaure caught on the wicket for 43 after which bowling out the final man Kudakwashe Macheka together with his subsequent supply.

It had been a carefully fought match all through after Rocks put Eagles in to bat.

Eagles misplaced their first two wickets for 23, together with that of Craig Ervine for 4, however a full of life 48 off 43 balls from Wessly Madhevere revived their fortunes.

Even so, 5 have been gone for 109 earlier than Kudzai Maunze (65) and Faraz Akram (31) added 89 for the sixth wicket, and helpful scores from the later batters took the full to 255 all out within the forty eighth over.

Jaure took three very important top-order wickets for 36 runs, whereas Macheka picked up 4 for 36, largely from down the order.

Rocks batted constantly in reply, with Harmless Kaia main the way in which with a fluent 42 off solely 28 balls.

All the primary six batters reached double figures, however aside from Kaia not one of the others took benefit of their begins by even reaching 30.

The match seemed to be nearly as good as over when the eighth wicket fell for 177, however then Richmond Mutumbami, who surprisingly stored himself again to bat at quantity 10, joined Jaure, and the 2 of them stored the runs flowing at an excellent tempo.

Their partnership added 72 runs, they have been seven runs from victory with overs in hand and appeared prepared to grab the victory when Chivanga bowled his two deadly deliveries and Eagles had the final very important phrase.

Jaure’s aggressive 43 got here off 39 balls, whereas Mutumbami coolly made 29 not out off 35, in the end in useless.

Chivanga completed with three wickets for 28 runs, whereas the ever-consistent Tapiwa Mufudza and the Northamptonshire leg-spinner Alex Russell additionally took three wickets every.

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Mountaineers – 295-7 in 50 overs (Tony Munyonga 96, Joylord Gumbie 63, Spencer Magodo 29*; Carl Mumba 2/32, Antum Naqvi 1/28, Ryan Burl 1/31)

Rhinos – 296-6 in 44.3 overs (Tarisai Musakanda 83*, Ryan Burl 59, Prince Masvaure 49; Tendai Chatara 2/60, Donald Tiripano 2/66, Tinashe Muchawaya 1/45)

Rhinos gained by 4 wickets

There was one other shut end at Mutare Sports activities Membership, the place Tarisai Musakanda confirmed his true class with a match-winning innings of 83 not out to steer Rhinos to a tense four-wicket victory over Mountaineers with only one over to spare.

Mountaineers, who selected to bat, loved a fantastic begin by reaching 53 for one and 135 for 2 wickets, thanks primarily to fantastic innings of 63 off 84 balls by Joylord Gumbie and 96 off 86 balls by Tony Munyonga.

With Dane Schadendorf scoring 27, the rating was an excellent 220 for 4 when Munyonga was out within the fortieth over.

The later batters maybe did not capitalise on this rating in addition to they could have completed, and their remaining whole of 295 for seven wickets was certainly ultimately simply not sufficient.

Carl Mumba had been one of the best of the Rhinos bowlers, taking two wickets for 32 in seven overs.

Rhinos loved regular batting on the high of the order and scored effectively, their solely downside being maintaining with the required run fee.

They reached 161 within the thirty first over, with their greatest partnership having been 70 for the second wicket between Prince Masvaure (49) and Antum Naqvi (41).

Then Musakanda and Ryan Burl placed on 102 for the fourth wicket in 14 overs, bettering the scoring fee, till Burl was out for 59 off 52 balls at 263 for 4 within the forty fifth over.

The subsequent two batters have been out cheaply, which put strain on the scoring fee.

Nevertheless, Musakanda performed an excellent innings, holding his finish agency and maintaining the runs coming in order that with Tashinga Musekiwa on the crease the profitable runs got here with an over in hand.

Musakanda’s unbeaten 83 got here off 75 deliveries and contained seven fours.