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WESSLY Madhevere celebrated his maiden first-class century at the right time for Eagles as he rescued his team from a difficult position in the middle order in their Logan Cup match against Rhinos at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Thanks to his effort, by the close of play the game was very evenly balanced.
Day two opened with the start of the Eagles innings after they dismissed Rhinos for 282 on Thursday.
Carl Mumba, having shown his batting skill, now shone with the ball, and in his second over he trapped Gareth Chirawu lbw for two, with nine runs on the board.
In his next over, he took the vital wicket of Kudzai Maunze, bowling him for 15, and Eagles were in trouble now at 23 for two wickets. More trouble was to follow, as first Regis Chakabva, who had tried to anchor the innings, was caught off Brandon Mavuta for a cautious six.
And in the next over the new man, Tino Mutombodzi, was lbw to Kuda Macheka for two — Eagles were now 57 for four wickets.
Afterwards they began to rebuild their innings, initially through the positive batting of their captain, Chamu Chibhabha, who scored 45 before being bowled by Tafara Chingwara at 91 for five.
The improvement continued, as Madhevere rose to the occasion, playing his strokes without being daunted by the situation, and he found another good partner in Tinashe Kamunhukamwe.
Together they added 65 for the sixth wicket, before Kamunhukamwe was caught behind, off Johnathan Campbell for 34, with the score 156.
Madhevere was now the only recognised batsman left, but Keith Jaure caused a surprise by batting in fine form from the start.
Runs now flowed freely, and it was a wonderful moment when soon after tea Madhevere was able to celebrate his century, a fine fluent innings with the landmark reached after facing 130 balls.
He then lost Jaure, caught off Campbell for 44 after a partnership of 115, and was finally caught himself off Mavuta for 111, after facing 151 balls and hitting a six and 13 fours.
Rhinos went in to bat again for the third innings of the match, 33 runs in arrears.
They made an excellent start, with Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Prince Masvaure taking the initiative from the start and bringing up the 50 without loss, in the ninth over.
They had reached 53 by the close, with Kaitano on 25 and Masvaure 22.
Meanwhile, Richmond Mutumbami passed his previous highest first-class score while Roy Kaia also completed a fine century for Southern Rocks on the second day of their Logan Cup match against Tuskers at Takashinga Sports Club yesterday. Rocks began the day on their overnight score of 310 for six wickets, with Kaia on 76 and Mutumbami 144.
Mutumbami soon passed 150, his previous best first-class score, and went on to make 156, at which mark he was caught behind by Clive Madande, the new Tuskers wicketkeeper, off Steve Chimhamhiwa, having faced 196 balls and hit three sixes and 24 fours.
His partnership with Kaia had put on 204 for the seventh wicket, the second-highest stand for this wicket by any Zimbabwean pair, behind only the 261 by Alistair Campbell and Paul Strang for the Zimbabweans on tour in 1997/98, against the New Zealand provincial side Canterbury.
Scores
Rhinos — 282 and 53-0 in 11 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 25*, Prince Masvaure 22*)
Eagles — 315 all out in 75.2 overs (Wessly Madhevere 111, Chamu Chibhabha 45, Keith Jaure 44; Johnathan Campbell 3/64, Brandon Mavuta 3/108, Carl Mumba 2/28)
Day 2 – Stumps: Rhinos lead by 20 runs
Southern Rocks — 355 all out in 98.5 overs (Richmond Mutumbami 156, Roy Kaia 103*, Sikandar Raza 43; Ernest Masuku 6/91, Steve Chimhamhiwa 2/63, Luke Jongwe 1/45)
Tuskers — 214-8 in 71 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 50, Clive Madande 43*, Craig Ervine 31; Tendai Chisoro 3/33, Sikandar Raza 2/56, Travor Mutsamba 1/50)
Day 2 — Stumps: Tuskers trail by 141 runs — Zimcricket.
Online Reporter