GALLANT centuries from Nkosana Mpofu and Hamid Ali could not prevent Rhinos, who lost only three wickets in this Logan Cup match, from defeating Tuskers by an innings and 40 runs at Takashinga Sports Club on Saturday.
Overnight, Tuskers were 143 for two, with Mpofu on 65 and Brian Chari 26, needing to score 410 runs to save an innings defeat.
Chari soon went in the morning for 28, but with help from Tafara Mupariwa, the 200 mark was passed with only three wickets down and Mpofu having just reached his century.
Then Mohammad Adil dismissed them both lbw with the second new ball. Mpofu faced 273 balls for his 102 runs in a determined innings that contained a six and eight fours.
Mike Chinouya followed up with two wickets in successive deliveries, and Tuskers looked to be on their way out at 207 for seven wickets, the last four having fallen for two runs.
However, Ali, better noted for his pace bowling, stood up to be counted and scored a fine maiden first-class century, with Mamoon Ur Riaz (23) his only partner able to reach double figures.
But the deficit was too big and Tuskers were all out for 370, with Ali unbeaten on 124 off 147 balls with two sixes and 13 fours.
Adil and Chinouya both finished with three wickets, for 87 and 66 runs respectively, giving Rhinos their first victory in the Logan Cup this season.
Meanwhile, a wonderful fighting century from Tadiwanashe Marumani saved Eagles from defeat.
Set an unlikely 480 to beat Mega Market Mountaineers at Old Hararians Sports Club, they forced a draw at 443 for nine when time ran out on Saturday evening.
Eagles began the day on six for no loss in the final innings of the match and were determined to make Mountaineers fight all the way.
Their opening batter Larvet Masunda set the stage with a dogged innings of 78, which lasted over four hours and 163 balls before he was out with the score at 212.
This brought in Marumani to join Chamu Chibhabha, and the two batted well in a partnership that at one stage looked like it would win the match.
Both attacked the bowlers in fine style, taking the score to 380 before Victor Nyauchi finally broke through immediately after Marumani reached his second career century, by having Chibhabha caught by Shingi Masakadza for 83.
Remarkably, within the next five overs Masakadza took two more catches, and each was off a different bowler, as the tail began to crumble, with three successive batters scoring just two runs among them.
Marumani kept up the attack, and although the match went on until after 6pm, the exhausted Mountaineers bowlers were unable to dismiss either him or Hamza Sajjad, who had to face only 12 balls for his five not out.
Marumani finished unbeaten on 144 off 141 balls with three sixes and 17 fours.
Donald Tiripano and Nyauchi took three wickets each.
Brief Scores
TUSKERS – 128 and 370 all out in 136 overs (Hamid Ali 124*, Nkosana Mpofu 102, Bright Phiri 30; Mike Chinouya 3/66, Muhammad Adil 3/87, Victor Chirwa 2/112)
RHINOS – 538-3 declared in 126.4 overs (Antum Naqvi 300*, Ben Curran 124, Tarisai Musakanda 48; Nkosana Mpofu 1/66, Mamoon ur Riaz 1/85, Tinotenda Maposa 1/86)
RESULT: Rhinos won by an innings and 40 runs
MOUNTAINEERS – 237 and 578-8 declared in 98 overs (Dion Myers 204*, Timycen Maruma 110, Kevin Kasuza 101; Alex Russell 4/192, Nick Welch 1/41, Hamza Sajjad 1/59)
EAGLES – 336 and 443-9 in 94.3 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 144*, Chamu Chibhabha 83, Larvet Masunda 78; Victor Nyauchi 3/62, Donald Tiripano 3/74, Salman Mirza 2/59)
RESULT: Match drawn – ZimCricket