Durham – 161-7 in 17 overs (Paul Coughlin 47*, Alex Lees 24, Bas de Leede 22; Wallace Mubayiwa 4/20, Ryan Burl 2/35, Muhammad Adil 1/27)
Rhinos – 130-7 in 17 overs (Ryan Burl 56, Prince Masvaure 14, Tashinga Musekiwa 12; Callum Parkinson 2/9, Oliver Gibson 2/24, Colin Ackermann 1/15)
Durham won by 31 runs
A late unbeaten 47* off 21 balls from Paul Coughlin gave Durham the impetus they needed to beat Midwest Rhinos and confirm their spot in the Zimbabwe T20 final.
Durham triumphed by 31 runs in a contest which was reduced to 17 overs per side after a delayed start due to rain at Harare Sports Club.
And with that victory, the tourists booked their place in the final of the tournament to be played at the same venue on Saturday.
Durham began batting at a good pace of about seven runs an over, gradually increasing it, but steadily losing wickets.
Alex Lees made 24 and Bas de Leede 22, but Mubayiwa took four middle-order wickets in three successive overs, and in the 14th over the seventh wicket fell at 118.
Paul Coughlin then hit out mightily at this vital juncture to make 47 off only 21 balls, with a six and five fours.
This took the Durham total to 161 for seven wickets, which proved to be too much for Rhinos.
They lost Takudzwanaishe Kaitano, bowled by the third ball of the innings from Callum Parkinson, and the first four wickets went down for 36 inside six overs.
Burl was in fine form, but the best support he could find was only 14 from Prince Masvaure and 12 from Tashinga Musekiwa.
Neville Madziva joined him at 63 for five as he hit out in their partnership of 60 in seven overs, but was able to contribute only eight runs off 17 balls.
When Burl was caught off Oliver Gibson at 123 for six, the task was a virtually impossible 40 runs off the last eight deliveries, and Madziva also went two balls later.
The eventual total was 130 for seven wickets, with two wickets each to Parkinson and Gibson.
Durham now sit supreme at the top of the table with 10 points from their four matches, enough to take them into the final, while Rhinos retain second place with five points.