A fine innings of 71 by Elton Chigumbura helped to keep Eagles in the game as they had a hard day’s fight against Rhinos in their Logan Cup match at Old Hararians Sports Club.
Eagles were always a bit behind during their first innings as they chased Rhinos’ total of 304, and were reliant on vital innings by Chigumbura and three of his team-mates to save them from disaster.They began the day at 29 for one wicket, with Kudzai Maunze on 16 and Regis Chakabva on 10.
This quickly became 30 for three, as neither batsman was able to add to his score and were out to soft dismissals against the bowling of Carl Mumba and Kyle Jarvis.Chamu Chibhabha and Tino Mutombodzi arrived at the crease earlier than they expected, but they staged a fine recovery operation.
Mutombodzi was uncertain at times, but he hung in there, while Chibhabha was in his best form.They put on 83 runs together, 56 of them by Chibhabha before he was dismissed at 113.Chibhabha’s weakness against spin is well known, and Rhinos unleashed their spinners on to him quickly, but today he handled them very skilfully and confidently, not afraid to use his feet and attack.His 56 came off only 59 balls, with nine fours and a six, although the leg-spinner Brandon Mavuta removed him in the end, lbw at 113.
Mutombodzi fell to Jarvis for 43, while Madziva removed Tony Munyonga and Trevor Garwe with successive deliveries to reduce Eagles to 154 for seven.
It was now that Chigumbura stood up to be counted, and he found an excellent and unexpected partner in the off-spinner Tapiwa Mufudza.They saved the innings by putting on 93 together, with Chigumbura handling the bowlers with fine judgment and scoring his 71 off 105 balls, with eight fours.He was finally trapped lbw by a low ball from Mavuta, at 247 for eight, but Mufudza stayed to the end of the innings for 54, his first fifty in first-class cricket.When he was finally caught off Tendai Chisoro the total was 269 — a deficit of 35, but for much of the innings it looked like being much worse.
Madziva and Jarvis made a fine spearhead with their seam bowling for Rhinos, taking three wickets each, for 48 and 42 runs respectively.Rhinos increased their advantage before close of play, when more than an hour of their second innings was possible and their aggressive opening pair of Bothwell Chapungu and Tarisai Musakanda played very well to score 60 without being parted.
Musakanda began like a house on fire, in a blaze of attacking strokes, but he cooled down later on.In contrast, Chapungu was very cautious for him at first, but once he had settled in began to attack in his usual style.The day closed with Rhinos very well placed again, with an advantage of 104 runs and all their second-innings wickets still intact.
Eagles, who have a big lead at the top of the Logan Cup table, will have to use all their skill and fighting spirit to keep that lead during the next two days
Brief score report
Rhinos – 304-9 declared and 69-0 in 19 overs (Tarisai Musakanda 31*, Bothwell Chapungu 28*)
Eagles – 269 all out in 80.2 overs (Elton Chigumbura 71, Chamu Chibhabha 56, Tapiwa Mufudza 54; Kyle Jarvis 3/42, Neville Madziva 3/48, Brandon Mavuta 2/74)
Day 2 – Stumps: Rhinos lead by 104 runs with 10 wickets remaining
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