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With the first day having been completely washed out with no ball being bowled on Tuesday, the match is now most certain to conclude in a stalemate when it goes into its final day today.

Inspired by in-form foreign signing Bilal Shafayat who made 114 runs, 87 runs from Sean Williams and an unbeaten 58 runs from Glenn Querl, Matabeleland Tuskers declared their first innings on 406 with nine wickets down.

A spirited bowling spell from fast bowler Njabulo Ncube saw Rhinos on the back foot early into their first innings. Ncube accounted for Jail Mickleburgh, Mark Vermeulen and Peter Moor to reduce the visitors to 78 for three.

A 65 run partnership between Steven Trenchard and Graeme Cremer revived the Rhinos innings. Former Tuskers player Trenchard was dropped twice by John Nyumbu on both occasions at slip and he made that count on his way to a 90 ball 66 runs with 12 fours in that innings.

It was Querl who struck soon after the tea interval, trapping Trenchard leg before wicket and then also got new batsman in Nyasha Mayavo the same way. Querl would be on a hat trick when the match enters its final day this morning.