SPINNER Brandon Mavuta took four wickets for 29 runs to help Rhinos to a 50-run win over Tuskers at the Bulawayo Athletic Club to book a place in the final of the Domestic Pro-50 competition.
The Midlands-based side will face Mountaineers in the final.
On a sluggish wicket with the odd ball stick on the wicket, the Rhinos captain, Prince Masvaure, bowled 34.3 overs of spin and just eight of pace.
Tuskers captain Ainsley Ndlovu won the toss and sent Rhinos to bat first. The Midlands team started like a house on fire, going at a very healthy run rate as they punished the home team’s seamers.
Openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Masvaure shared an opening stand of 68 in 8.1 overs before Ndlovu ran out the latter for 19 from 22 balls.
Rhinos, who had threatened to score a total above 300 runs, lost their way when spinners were introduced.
From 68-1, it became 96-5 after 22 overs with Tuskers on top. However, Kaitano continued scoring from the other end to give his team a chance.
Kaitano got to his 50 from just 38 balls, and as long as he was still at the crease, Rhinos could accelerate at the back end of their innings.
He shared a 49-run partnership with Brandon Mavuta for the sixth wicket to breathe life into Rhinos’ floundering innings.
The Zimbabwe opener, however, fell seven runs short of his century when he tried a scoop over the man at short fine leg to be caught by Mzingaye Mdlongwa off Allan Chingoma.
Rhinos eventually bowled out for 214 in the 48th over, Neville Madziva and Mavuta scoring 36 runs to complement Kaitano’s top score of 93 runs.
Wallace Mubayiwa, the left-arm spinner playing in only his second List A match, was tasked with bowling in the power play and the Tuskers batsmen failed to get him away.
The pressure eventually got too hard to bear for the Tuskers openers when Nkosana Mpofu played across a straighter delivery from Mubayiwa and was bowled for 19 from as many balls.
Tanunurwa Makoni, playing anchor, was dropped on 22 by wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo off left-arm spinner Masvaure. The same bowler eventually bowled out Makoni in his next over after adding one more run to his score.
It was left to overseas player Shane Gatkate to try to keep Brian Chari company, build a partnership, take his team home, and book a place in the final.
However, Masvaure put screws on Tuskers’ scoring rate and did not let the opposition get away from them.
Getkate got tired of blocking and lofted Masvaure over long-off for a massive six and was out the next ball caught and bowled.
Allan Chigoma was given out leg before wicket by umpire Forster Mutizwa after he failed to read a Mavuta googley.
Alvin Chiradza needlessly gave away his wicket when he cut a short and wide ball from Jonathan Campbell straight into the hands of Mavuta.
Tuskers were now six wickets down, and suddenly a score of 214 runs which at the break did not look threatening, started manifesting as one huge mountain to climb.
Wickets fell around Chari, but that did not seem to flummox him as the opener took the game deep for Tuskers without hitting one shot out of anger.
He got to his fifty in the 35th over off a Mubayiwa single. He only threw two fist punches into the air in celebration.
After he got to his fifty, Chari decided it was time to up the ante and slog-swept Mavuta for a massive six over deep mid-wicket.
Ndlovu shared a seventh-wicket stand of 59 runs to bring the impetus back into their run chase. However, Ndlovu’s innings of 34 from 40 balls ended when he was given out lbw to the bowling of Mavuta.
Mavuta was not done yet as he sent Ernest Masuku back to the pavilion, adjudged out lbw and Sheunopa Musekwa out caught and bowled by the Rhinos leg spinner.
The home side were eventually bowled out for 164 in the 43rd over when Tuskers’ last bastion of hope, Chari, was caught at cow corner when he tried to hit Campbell for a six.
Rhinos dug out invaded the pitch as they celebrated with their teammates after making it to the final.
