The Mpumalanga Rhinos lost their fourth of the five matches they played in the CSA One-day Series against the KZN Tuskers last Friday.

The visitors won by four wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The Tuskers won the toss and put the Rhinos in to bat.

Yassar Cook and Nhlanhla Dlamini put on 41 for the first wicket before Cook was caught behind by Dilivio Ridgaard off the bowling of Stefan Tait.
Rubin Hermann joined Dlamini at the crease and the two took the score to 65 before the opener was caught out by Yaseen Vallie, bowled Alindile Mhletywa.

The home team lost their next eight wickets for 83 runs.

It was a dismal batting performance and could have been worse were it not for a 35 from Jurie Snyman and 19 off the bat of Benjamin van Niekerk.

The Rhinos’ innings came to an end in the 42nd over with 148 in the scoreboard.

The Tuskers’ Michael Erlank took four for 27 in his 10 overs. His spells included four maidens.

The rain arrived during the innings break and with 10 over being lost. The DWL revised score to win was 135 in 40 overs.

With Thamsanqa Kumalo and Mokgakane back in the pavilion with the score on 29, there was a glimmer of hope for the Rhinos.

But 33 of 44 balls from Malcolm Nofal, 11 of 11 by Mhletywa and 16 off 16 by Tiaan Koekemoer took the game away from the home team.

The Tuskers went on to score 138 for six with eight overs and three balls to spare.

It was a convincing victory by a team that was clearly superior on the day.

Rhinos’ recent results
• December 3 – lost by six wickets to South Western Districts
• December 6 – lost by 36 runs to Eastern Cape Inyathi
• December 11 – won by one wicket against Limpopo
• December 13 – lost by five wickets to Northern Cape Heat

Rhinos’ remaining fixture
• December 21 vs Eastern Storm at Uplands