BRENDAN Taylor’s 145 not out was not enough as Eagles beat Rhinos by six wickets with 20 balls to spare in a pulsating Domestic T20 encounter on Tuesday.
Eagles captain Chamu Chibhabha won the toss and elected to bowl on a flat OH pitch which is hard to defend because of the short boundaries.
Taylor opened the batting with Takudzwanashe Kaitano who was making his T20 debut, started off circumspect in the first few overs.
The openers made steady progress and at the halfway stage of the Rhinos innings they were 78 without loss, Taylor being the more aggressive of the two.
Former Zimbabwe captain Taylor, increased his tempo as he approached his half-century and Richard Ngarava was at the receiving end of the vintage Taylor as he was hit for a straight six over long-on conceding 12 runs in the over.
Taylor brought his half-century from just 36 balls and at that point, a score of 200 looked more of a formality.
On the other hand, Kaitano who was striking at a strike rate of 118, was slowing down Rhino’s momentum in the context of the match.
After 15 overs Rhinos were sitting pretty on 141 without loss. Kaitano then directed his shot towards an alert Tanaka Chivanga who obliged by taking the catch off the bowling of Daniel Jakiel. The wicket gave Eagles who had toiled all morning their first breakthrough in the 16th over.
The fall of his partner did not deter Taylor but spurred him on as he scored the first century of this season’s Domestic T20 from just 60 balls.
His first 50 came from 36 balls and the second 50 was even better as it came from just 24 balls.
Taylor continued to accelerate as he punished the Eagles bowlers and in the process adding 45 runs from just 18 balls to remain unbeaten on 145 at the end of Rhinos’s allotted. The Midlands-based side posted 194 runs for the loss of one wicket.
In reply to the highest score of the tournament, the Eagles lost their captain Chibhabha for five runs in the second over with a score of 20.
Just like the Eagles bowlers, Rhinos bowlers did not fare any better as they struggled with line and length on a flat pitch.
The fall of Chibhabha brought Madhevere to the fore who was in a no-nonsense mood hitting Neville Madziva out of that attack for 18 runs in the 6th over which cost the bowler 23 runs.
After six overs Eagles were 75 for 1, a score that Rhinos had only managed to make after 10 overs.
Madhevere did not last long as he was outfoxed by Brandon Mavuta who bowled him through the gate for 44 runs from 20 balls, striking it at 220.
The demise of Madhevere did not bring any respite for Rhinos bowlers as this brought to the crease senior statesman, Regis Chakabva to the crease with Eagles still requiring 113 runs from 78 balls for victory.
Chakabva summoned his years of experience as he made Rhinos bowlers look ordinary scoring 59 runs for 29 balls.
He eventually perished in the 16th over with the Eagles still requiring 25 runs for victory.
In the end, Madhevere, Tafadzwa Kamhunukamwe and Chakabva’s cameos trumped Taylor’s century to set up an Eagles win in a thrilling run chase.
