Rhinos captain PJ Moor played a traditional Test-match type of innings in scoring 92 to put his team in a strong position against Eagles in their Logan Cup match at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday
Rhinos’ clear policy was to bat Eagles out of the game today, and the match was fought out in typical Test-match style with both teams getting their heads down with great determination and giving nothing away.
Moor batted for almost four hours to lead his team from the front and was unfortunate not to record a century, as he was dismissed not long before the close.
The bottom line is that Rhinos finished the day 346 runs ahead with three wickets left, and if they declare overnight Eagles will face a very stiff challenge to score the runs or to survive on a deteriorating pitch.
Rhinos had begun the day on 69 without loss, Bothwell Chapungu on 28 and Tarisai Musakanda 31.
They quickly lost Musakanda for 32, but the normally dynamic Chapungu put his head down and played a steady innings to make sure his team did not waste its advantage.
His next partner was Prince Masvaure, who was the most fluent of the Rhinos batsmen, scoring an impressive 55 off 90 balls.
Chapungu was finally out for 62, and the next major partnership was one of 104 for the fourth wicket between Moor and Takudzwa Kaitano (35) that really made Eagles suffer.
The Eagles bowlers never gave up the struggle, though, and maintained good line, length and effort all through.
The seamer Honest Ziwira was the best of the bowlers, returning the worthy figures of four wickets for 39 runs off 14 overs.
It was him who finally trapped Moor lbw for 92, and in fact he took the wickets of Test batsmen Moor and Musakanda twice in the match.
Less fortunate was Trevor Garwe, who did a superb job spearheading the attack, bowling 15 overs for only 32 runs, but without the good fortune of a wicket, though he came close to it on several occasions.
In the last five overs of the day the bowlers finally found some reward as three wickets, including that of Moor, fell for 13 runs.
Rhinos may well declare overnight to give themselves the best chance of bowling Eagles out, as it would take either brilliant batting or appalling bowling for Eagles to win the match now, although they could still fight out a draw.
Brief score card
Rhinos – 304-9 declared and 311-7 in 109 overs (PJ Moor 92, Bothwell Chapungu 62, Prince Masvaure 55; Honest Ziwira 4/39, Kudzai Maunze 2/30, Tony Munyonga 1/35)
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 3 – Stumps: Rhinos lead by 346 runs with three wickets remaining
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