adminSouthern Rocks by an innings and 215 runs in a Logan Cup match at Masvingo Sports Club.
Rhinos, who had a bye last week, sounded early warning shots with a brilliant all-round performance in their first game of the competition to go top of the table with seven points.
Simon Mugava claimed successive four-wicket hauls in the match and Remembrance Nyathi removed the last three batsmen as Rocks crashed out for 137 runs yesterday.
“We played some wonderful cricket. Our bowlers were disciplined in their lines and length and they were rewarded for that,” said Gillespie.
“It’s pleasing to say it was a good team effort. Chinouya got five wickets in the first innings and the other bowlers did come up as well. They did set up a good platform for the batsmen,” he added.
Rhinos assumed control of the game from day one when they dismissed the hosts for 150 runs. Gary Ballance (210) and Malcom Waller (174) then took matters into their own hands with a match-winning 341-run partnership for the third wicket.
Waller, however, fell early yesterday after adding only two runs to his overnight score but Rikki Wessels contributed a worthy half-century to the cause. They declared their innings at 502/4 early yesterday and the bowlers followed up the good work by their batsmen with a disciplined bowling performance and ensured the visitors wrapped up the game with one day remaining.
Mugava finished with eight match wickets while Nyathi’s late strike yielded bowling figures of 3-13 after cleaning up the tail comprising Tafadzwa Kamungozi (1), Tinashe Panyangara (0) and Taurai Muzarabani (6). Ed
Rainsford also bowled well and took two wickets yesterday. Richmond Mutambami was Rocks’ highest contributor with 53 runs.
In Mutare, Mountaineers’ overseas player Liam Dawson gave a good account of himself on his debut for the Mountain Goats when he finished with an unbeaten century (110) and then claimed seven wickets as they restricted Eagles to 212 runs in their second innings.
However, Mountaineers, who scored 229 runs in their first innings, need 251 more today with 10 wickets in hand to win the match.
Bongani Ndlovu