A fine innings of 90 from Milton Shumba, with excellent support from Ainsley Ndlovu and Steve Chimhamhiwa, rescued Tuskers from a slump and brought them an impressive lead of 132 runs, with a wicket in hand, by the close of play at Old Hararians Sports Club on Thursday.
The overnight score for Tuskers was one run for one wicket, the run having been scored by Tanu Makoni, his partner being Craig Ervine.
Makoni from the start showed the same confidence and form he had shown when he scored his maiden first-class century against Southern Rocks last weekend, but Ervine did not last long, being caught at the wicket off Carl Mumba for eight.
Brian Chari came in and played rather a cautious game on the whole while Makoni continued to dominate the bowling.
By lunch they had taken the score to 116 for two wickets, of which Makoni had scored 74 and Chari 25.
Soon after the break, though, Makoni fell to a catch by Nyasha Mayavo at the wicket off the bowling of Johnathan Campbell for 83; 137 for three.
Two runs later he was followed back to the pavilion by Chari, out to a return catch by Brandon Mavuta for 36.
Shumba was in now, but there was little proven batting to follow.
With Allan Chigoma caught off Mavuta for three, and Clive Madande and Ernest Masuku both caught off Campbell for 10, the score slumped to 173 for seven.
However, Ndlovu finally displayed some prowess with the bat at first-class level, as he came in and attacked the bowling with gusto, and with such success that by the tea interval he had actually overtaken his illustrious partner.
Tuskers at the interval were 223 for seven wickets, with Shumba on 35 and Ndlovu 38.
After tea Tuskers went into the lead, and Ndlovu galloped to his first-ever fifty in first-class cricket, off 64 balls.
The pair put up 107 for the eighth wicket, turning the game around, before Mavuta broke the stand with a successful lbw appeal against Ndlovu, who had made 61 off 86 balls; 280 for eight.
Chimhamhiwa provided more good support for Shumba and they took the score past 300.
This wicket added 74, taking the score to 354 before Shumba, on 90, was caught off Trevor Gwandu.
When bad light stopped play Tuskers had reached 361 for nine wickets, with Chimhamhiwa on 35 and Charlton Tshuma on four, a lead of 132 runs over Rhinos.
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