Eagles scrape through in low-scoring thriller

Mashonaland Eagles were made to sweat chasing 89, winning the thriller against Midwest Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club by three wickets. A five-wicket haul by the left-arm spinner Kudakwashe Bhasikoro had reduced the Eagles to 75 for 7, but the eighth-wicket pair of Brighton Mugochi and Samuel Mwakayeni saw through the nervy moments to take them home.

Two bowlers, from either side, picked up exact match figures of 5 for 17, but it was Tafadzwa Muzarawetu's that was the match-winning one. The Rhinos' openers had added 28 before Nathan Waller took two quick wickets. Muzarawetu, the right-arm seamer who was making his List A debut, then cut through the middle and lower order to round off the innings in 31 overs. Bradley Wadlen's 28 was the highest score. It turned out to be the highest of the match as the Eagles struggled. They were coasting at 37 for 0 before Bhasikoro struck, with Walden chipping in with two wickets. At 75 for 7, it was anyone's game but the Eagles scraped through.

A combined bowling performance helped Southern Rocks beat Matabeleland Tuskers by 33 runs at Queens Sports Club. Keith Dabengwa and John Nyumbu took seven wickets between them to restrict Rocks to 216. Rocks progressed steadily to 60 for 1, but Nyumbu's strikes reduced them to 67 for 4. A fifth-wicket stand of 76 between Tendai Chisoro and Luke Jongwe revived them before Dabengwa ran through the lower order. The Tuskers were in a spot of bother at 53 for 3 and needed a sizeable partnership. Godwill Mamhiyo made a half-century but lacked support as the innings ended at 183. The Rocks sit on top of the table with 19 points.