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READY TO CHARGE . . . The Midlands Rhinos team pose for a group photo at Harare Sports Club yesterday before the first day of their Logan Cup battle against Manicaland Mountaineers

DONALD Tiripano’s fine knock of 73 shored up Manicaland Mountaineers’ innings as Midlands Rhinos pacer Tafara Chingwara hogged the limelight with a memorable spell of bowling on the first day of this Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club yesterday. The day finished with Mountaineers on 257 for eight wickets, with Foster Mutizwa still there on 60 and Natsai M’shangwe on nine.

Rhinos were dealt a crippling blow for this match, in that no fewer than nine of their top players were called up to play in a practice match in Bulawayo in preparation for the West Indies tour. They were forced to give first-class debuts to four new players, but did have the consolation of welcoming back Brad Wadlan from the United Kingdom and Neville Madziva, who missed the first match.

Their team was captained by Prince Masvaure, and only Bothwell Chapungu and James Bruce remained of the 11 who played in the first round of Logan Cup matches. Mountaineers were weakened by the loss of four players, including Shingi Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda and Tendai Chatara to injury, but they have strength in depth that Rhinos do not possess. Rhinos won the toss and put Mountaineers in to bat on a warm, sunny morning.

Bruce and Chingwara, with four previous first-class matches between them, opened the bowling, and at least did a tidy job, although posing no threat, in the face of steady batting by Tino Mawoyo and Kevin Kasuza. Madziva came on as first change and quickly had Mawoyo, on 15, missed off a difficult high chance at first slip as he edged a ball to the boundary. The opening partnership had reached 70 when Madziva moved a ball back into Mawoyo, who was back on his stumps and trapped lbw for 35.

At lunch the score had progressed to 91 for one wicket, Kasuza on 32 and Innocent Kaia 15. Kasuza fell soon after the break, for 35, as he cut a ball from Chingwara uppishly and was well caught low down at second slip; 98 for two. A third wicket fell at 100 when Timycen Maruma hooked at a short ball from Chingwara and was given out caught by the wicketkeeper without scoring.

Then a loose stroke by Kaia (21) saw him edge another ball from Chingwara to first slip, and Mountaineers found themselves struggling at 106 for four. Chingwara was now bowling a good line just outside the off stump and his next victim was Kudzai Sauramba, who fished and edged to the keeper without scoring; 106 for five.

Clive Chitumba concentrated on nervous survival, and had scored only a single off 16 balls when he too nibbled and was caught at the wicket, the bowler this time being Bruce, at 109 for six. Mutizwa, who had been playing a passive role, was then joined by Tiripano, and the hope was that the two experienced players would claw Mountaineers out of the pit they had dug for themselves.

Chingwara was rested, and Tiripano twice drove his replacement, Trevor Gwandu, square on the off side for fours. That persuaded Mutizwa to unfurl one or two strokes as well, but not for very long. At tea the score had reached 152 for six wickets, with Mutizwa on 14 and Tiripano 29. The partnership continued steadily after tea, with Mutizwa playing a very slow game while Tiripano played the only impressive innings of the day. Mutizwa finally reached his fifty off 138 balls.

Scores

Manicaland Mountaineers – 257-8 in 90 overs (Donald Tiripano 73, Forster Mutizwa 60*, Tino Mawoyo 35, Kevin Kasuza 35; Tafara Chingwara 4/47, Bothwell Chapungu 1/5, James Bruce 1/23) – zimcricket.