THE 2023/24 edition of the Pro 50 Championship started off on a run-fest with at least five half centuries being scored on the first day on Friday with a century from Rhinos’s Antum Naqvi capping the eventful first weekend of the season.
Tarisai Musakanda scored a 75-ball 83, while Ryan Burl’ 59 off 52 balls helped the Kwekwe-based side, Rhino’s to four-wicket win away at Mutare Sports Club against Mountaineers on Friday.
No half ton came from the home team but rather in Harare where Eagles hosted Southern Rocks at Takashinga Cricket Club in Highfield where Kudzai Maunze scored 65 runs from 82 balls.
Eagles won that encounter by six runs after defending 255/10 that they scored in 47.5 overs restricting Rocks to 249 all out inside 44.3 overs.
The flying Eagles soared high again in the back to back fixture beating Southern Rocks by three wickets. After scoring 270/10 in 49 overs, Rocks failed to guard jealously their total as Eagles reached 273/7 in 49.2 overs buoyed by their captain, Chamu Chibhabha’s unbeaten 64 runs off 66 balls, Lavert Masunda’s 57 and Mathew Welch’s 52 runs.
“It feels good to get some runs on the board and carry the team over the line. Two in two, I’m proud of the way the boys played over the last two games and we are looking forward to the next games,” Eagles skipper Chibhabha said after the match.
“It’s still the start of the season but the Mid West Rhinos are really playing some good cricket so we will be looking forward to coming up against them. They have got some good players but we are a very confident side and we are backing ourselves up to do pretty well.”
On Sunday, Rhinos upped the ante chasing down Mountaineers’ 295/10 for just the loss of two wickets in 39 overs reaching 298/2. Mountaineers’ Spencer Magodo was the lone half century scorer for his side, 74-ball 75 made up of two boundaries and two maximums.
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The rest of his compatriots were lost in the mountains as Rhinos led by centurion, Naqvi’s 128 run from 93 balls not out, Musakanda’s unbeaten 81 from 72 balls and opener, Takudzwanaishe Kaitano’s 50 off 40 deliveries saw them complete a double over Mountaineers in Mutare.
“Feeling good with my form, hoping to continue to pile on the runs and take wickets with the ball,” Naqvi told NewsDay Sport.
The season continues this weekend with Eagles hosting Tuskers in back to back fixtures at Harare Sports Club on Friday and Sunday while Southern Rocks are at home at Masvingo Sports Club against Mountaineers.
