Stuart Matsikenyeri and Tatenda Taibu lit up the latest round of the Coca-Cola Pro50 championship after they both contributed two eye-catching centuries to lead their respective teams Mashonaland Eagles and Southern Rocks to victory on Saturday.
While Matsikenyeri’s unbeaten 110 — his first List A hundred in his 201st match — set up a 117-run win for Mashonaland Eagles, Taibu’s run-a-ball 106 helped Southern Rocks squeeze to a tie in a high-scoring match against MidWest Rhinos.
Eagles were thankful for Matsikenyeri’s effort at Mutare Sports Club as no other batsman made more than 25 and he did much to hold the innings together after they had slipped to precarious 107 for 5.
He found able partners in Trevor Garwe, Nathan Waller and Ray Price, bringing up a 123-ball century in the 47th over and staying until the end to guide Eagles to 269 for 9.
Mountaineers’ reply never got going, with both openers falling in the teens.
Hamilton Masakadza’s 81-ball 71 kept up their hopes, but once he was dismissed the fight went from the innings.
Kyle Jarvis was the main destroyer, his dismissal of Masakadza sparking a dramatic collapse as the last five wickets fell for just two runs in the space of less than three overs.
In Masvingo, an ominously strong showing from MidWest Rhinos’ top order boosted them to 305 for eight after they had chosen to bat.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Vusi Sibanda (47), Gary Ballance (46) and Brendan Taylor (55) all showed their class before Malcolm Waller’s bellicose 59-ball 86 ensured Rhinos would reach an imposing total.
Rocks’ initial response lacked the same fluency, but Robertson Chinyengetere shared in a 166-run stand with Taibu at better than a-run-a-ball to tilt the match in their favour.
When he was dismissed, Rocks needed 77 in just under 12 overs, but the pressure proved telling on the lower order.
Taibu could not stick around to finish the job, becoming one of offspinner Simon Mugava’s three victims, but Tendai Chisoro’s rapid 29 took Rocks close before a final effort from Hilary Matanga drew the scores level.
Eagles’ win solidified their position at the top of the points table, while Rhinos, Rocks and Mountaineers are all still languishing winless.
