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Senior Sports Reporter
UNBEATEN sparkling centuries from Zimbabwe national cricket team captain Brendan Taylor and Vusumuzi Sibanda put Midwest Rhinos in firm control of proceedings against Matabeleland Tuskers on the opening day of the four-day Logan Cup match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday.
Sibanda was not out on 106 runs, an innings made up of 11 fours and four sixes while Taylor was also unconquered on 105 runs from 121 deliveries with 11 fours and three sixes as Rhinos closed the day on 217 runs for the loss of one wicket in 44 overs. This gives the Kwekwe-based franchise a first innings lead of 89 runs after they bowled out Tuskers for 128 runs.

Tuskers never got going after winning the toss and opting to bat. The home side lost their first wicket with the last ball of the first over, Brian Chari dismissed by Michael Chinouya for one run.

Not much resistance was offered by the Tuskers’ top order with the only meaningful contribution at the top of the order coming from skipper Sean Williams who made 48 runs.

John Nyumbu, coming in to bat at number nine, had the second highest contribution with the bat with 34 runs.
Left arm spinner Bradley Wadlan and off spinner Malcolm Waller picked up four wickets each, seamers Chinouya and Neville Madziva had one wicket apiece.

Rhinos saw their opening partnership of Sibanda and Wadlan yield only 16 runs when Wadlan fell to Tawanda Mupariwa, taken in the slips by Williams for five runs. That proved to be the only celebration for Tuskers as their bowlers were ripped apart by Sibanda and Taylor.

Sibanda particularly targeted Nyumbu with a couple of lusty blows coming off the off spinner’s bowling. With national team coach Andrew Waller watching, Nyumbu did not do himself any favours with his bowling yesterday.  He will have to bowl a lot better today to convince Waller that he has what it takes to deliver on the international stage.

Sibanda and Taylor went on to reach their hundreds and shared an unbroken second wicket partnership of 201 runs.
When the match enters its second day this morning, Rhinos will look to further stretch their lead while the Tuskers bowlers would be out to pick up the remaining wickets before additional damage is done by the visitors.