By Tendai Chisiri
Rhinos 139 all out in 37 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 56, Antum Naqvi 44, Ahsan Aqil Ali 15; Matthew Campbell 4/3, Roy Kaia 2/23, Johnathan Campbell 2/27)
Southern Rocks – 143-6 in 30.2 overs (Johnathan Campbell 48*, Tafadzwa Tsiga 22, Innocent Kaia 19; Antum Naqvi 4/52, Trevor Gwandu 1/19, Victor Chirwa 1/29)
Southern Rocks won by four wickets
The Campbell brothers were at the heart of Southern Rocks’ four-wicket triumph over Rhinos in a gripping Pro50 Championship encounter at Kwekwe Sports Club on Tuesday.
Matthew Campbell wrecked the Rhinos innings with four wickets, while his brother Johnathan Campbell followed up with two of his own before guiding Rocks home with a composed, unbeaten 48.
Sent in to bat after winning the toss, Rhinos made a promising start, reaching 99 for the loss of only Ben Curran (14).
But their resistance crumbled soon after.
Roy Kaia sparked the collapse, removing top-scorer Takudzwanashe Kaitano for 56 off 79 balls and Tarisai Musakanda for just two in quick succession.
Antum Naqvi (44) and Ahsan Aqil Ali (16) briefly revived the innings, taking the total to 135 for three before the Campbells struck in tandem to trigger a sensational collapse.
The last seven wickets fell for just four runs in 25 balls – including six for a solitary run – as Rhinos slumped to 139 all out.
Matthew’s devastating figures of four for three in three overs were the highlight, while Johnathan chipped in with two for 27.
What looked like a modest chase turned tricky for Rocks, who stumbled to 60 for five, with Naqvi claiming three wickets.
Innocent Kaia’s 19 was the only double-figure score among the top five.
But Johnathan steadied the innings with maturity, adding 52 with Tafadzwa Tsiga (22) to swing momentum back to the visitors.
William Mashinge, with 13 not out, provided the finishing touch as Rocks reached 140 for six to complete the job.
Johnathan’s unbeaten 48, which came off 81 deliveries and included a six and four fours, capped a fine all-round performance – and a memorable day for the Campbell brothers.
************************************************
Tuskers – 227 all out in 49.5 overs (Brian Chari 47, Bright Phiri 36, Ernest Masuku 35; Victor Nyauchi 2/34, Definate Mawadzi 2/35, Michael Frost 1/27)
Mountaineers – 52-3 in 16 overs (Timycen Maruma 22*, Nick Welch 13*, Ronak Patel 5; Tawanda Maposa 3/12)
No result
A fiery opening spell from Tawanda Maposa gave Tuskers the upper hand against Mountaineers in their Pro50 Championship clash at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday – but persistent rain denied them the chance to press home their advantage.
After being sent in to bat, Tuskers made a shaky start, slipping to 43 for three with Victor Nyauchi striking twice.
However, Bright Phiri and Brian Chari steadied the innings with a valuable 75-run partnership.
Phiri compiled a patient 36 off 81 balls, while Chari played the aggressor with 47 off 79.
Once Phiri fell at 118 for four and Chari departed soon after at 145 for five, the middle order was forced to accelerate.
Munashe Chimusoro (32 off 29) and Ernest Masuku (35 off 28) injected much-needed momentum in the closing overs.
Their enterprising knocks lifted Tuskers to a respectable 227 before they were bowled out with one ball remaining – the innings ending in chaos with three run-outs.
Nyauchi and Definate Mawadzi finished with two wickets apiece for Mountaineers.
In reply, Maposa ripped through the top order with a fiery spell that left Mountaineers reeling at 16 for three inside eight overs.
He dismissed Ronak Patel (5), Tinashe Chiorah (3) and Matthew Welch (0), finishing his five-over burst with superb figures of three for 12.
Nick Welch and Timycen Maruma tried to rebuild, guiding Mountaineers to 52 for three after 16 overs, with Nick on 13 and Maruma on 22.
But their fightback was halted when rain intervened – and never relented – forcing the match to be abandoned with no result.
News Sport Online 