adminbowled out for 268 on day one while, at the close play, Eagles were on 17 runs for the loss of two wickets. Eagles won the toss and sent the visitors into bat and disaster struck as early as the seventh over as opener Brian Chari fell victim after mistiming a Nathan Waller delivery to be trapped.
Moments later, Prosper Utseya trapped the duo of Terrence Duffin and Keith Dabengwa leaving the visitors in all sorts of troubles on 34-3.
Tuskers’ new signing, Bilal Shafayat, provided some resistance with a well-crafted 51 before eventually falling victim to a fine delivery from Tino Mutombodzi.
Glen Querl perished one run short of a half century. Keegan Meth contributed a handy 30 runs on the board before Ray Price, who had removed Querl, struck again after deceiving the Tuskers’ skipper with a well bowled off cutter.
No other Tuskers’ batsman passed the 20-run mark as Price picked the most wickets for the hosts, retaining figures of 4 for 62 in 19.2 overs. Utseya and Mutombodzi picked up two wickets each while Waller and Innocent Chinyoka claimed a wicket each. At the close, the Eagles had lost two wickets with Twenty 20 specialist Cephas Zhuwawo (14) and new boy Keith Kondo failing to get off the mark.
In Kwekwe, half centuries from Tino Mawoyo (58), Tymcen Maruma (51) and Kudzai Sauramba (55) made sure the visiting Mountaineers set a solid first innings total of 252 runs.
Rhinos’ spinner, Graeme Cremer, claimed three wickets for 84 in 26 overs while Edward Rainsford, Mluleki Nkala, Mike Chinouya and Malcolm Waller took a wicket each.
Meanwhile, Elton Chigumbura’s Sylhet Royals finally ran out of steam as they lost their first match, after five wins, to the Dhaka Gladiators by 31 runs yesterday in the Bangladesh Premier League.
The Royals had previously won four matches chasing more than 140 with ease.
Three Royals batsmen were run out, starting with Dwayne Smith, who slipped in the middle of the pitch in the second over.
Online Reporter