Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RHINOS swept aside Tuskers with such ease at Queens Sports Club that the home side looked like they wanted the ground to swallow them after a 10-wicket hammering wrapped up inside two days on Saturday afternoon.
The loss cut deep for the Bulawayo outfit. What should have been a steady early-season test turned into a harsh reminder of how far off the mark they were and why they now need to take a hard look at themselves.
Rain slowed play on both days, yet the match still finished early after Tuskers produced one of their poorest batting efforts in years. They kept glancing back at the scoreboard in disbelief as the damage mounted.
The contest had looked balanced going into day two. Rhinos were in real trouble at 82 for 7 replying to Tuskers’ 118, but Takudzwanashe Kaitano, unbeaten on 30 overnight, changed the tone of the game.
He found a willing partner in Trevor Gwandu and the pair turned the match on its head with a stubborn ninth-wicket stand worth 77.
Gwandu’s steady 27 supported Kaitano, who fought through 137 balls for a crucial 79 that included nine fours and a six before Ali Khan finally bowled him. Their stand carried Rhinos to 172 all out and gave them a 54-run lead that shifted all the pressure to the hosts.
Ainsley Ndlovu and Muslim Khan tried to keep Tuskers in it with three wickets each, but the momentum had already swung.
Tuskers’ second innings fell apart almost immediately. Only opener Nkosana Mpofu showed any resistance with a top score of 29. Once he fell with the score on 40, the rest of the line-up crumbled against Naqvi’s accuracy. Maaz Khan backed him with three wickets as the hosts were bundled out for 67 in 23.4 overs, Mpofu the lone player to reach double figures.
Rhinos needed only 14 to finish the job. Kaitano and Ben Curran knocked off the target with ease and closed out a ruthless two-day win.
With the match ending far earlier than expected, the Pro50 Championship fixture that had been set for Wednesday will now be played today at Queens Sports Club.
