Matabeleland Tuskers are on the brink of victory against Mid West Rhinos in the Logan Cup. Test batsman Brian Chari became the third man to fall in the nineties in the Tuskers innings, with Brian Vitori then starring with the ball to reduce Rhinos to 65 for seven in their second innings at stumps – still a deficit of 141 runs.
Chari, resuming day three on seven with Tuskers already four runs ahead of their opponents on 259 for three, saw his partner Bornaparte Mujuru fall for his overnight 96 – agonisingly short of his maiden century – and then lost his captain Godwill Mamhiyo soon after to Mike Chinouya. Luke Jongwe then departed via a run-out to make it 289 for six, but Tawanda Mupariwa joined him and the pair took the score to 424 before they were separated.
Chari was dispatched for 99 – not a bad effort considering his last outing, in Chittagong, saw him bag a pair – courtesy of Bothwell Chapungu’s part-time offerings, with Vitori (23) then adding a late flourish before Tuskers declared – 206 runs ahead – on 461 for nine, with Mupariwa unbeaten on 57.
It was then over to Vitori with the new ball in the Rhinos second dig. He soon sent Prince Masvaure, Brad Wadlan and Chapungu packing in the space of two overs, with Mupariwa accounting for Tarisai Musakanda in the interim to leave the scoreboard reading 19 for four. It would hardly get better for the hosts before the close as Sean Williams struck late on in consecutive overs.
Scores in brief: Rhinos 255 (Masvaure 77, Mupariwa 3-34) & 65-7 trail Tuskers 461-9 (Williams 96) by 141 runs.
Day one report | Day two report
Mashonaland Eagles appear equally certain of victory in the other second round fixture, in Mutare. Hosts Mountaineers are on 53 for five in pursuit of a hypothetical 452 for victory.
Openers Tino Mawoyo and Kevin Kasuza did get the chase off to a positive start by adding 36 inside six overs as Trevor Garwe came in for some punishment. However, Tafadzwa Muzarawetu and Tatenda Gumunyu-Manatsa followed up their strong first innings showing by triggering a Mountaineers collapse of five for 12.
Earlier in the day, second half-centuries of the match from Ryan Burl and Tinotenda Mutombodzi had set up an Eagles second innings declaration at 311 for eight. The pair put on 89 for the third-wicket, with Cephas Zhuwao then adding a typically belligerent 75 to hasten the end of the innings. The 29 year-old, who has something of a cult following in certain quarters, smashed 75 off just 50 balls, hitting seven sixes before finally his fun was brought to an end by Bert Chikomba (4-101).
Scores in brief: Eagles 401 (Burl 92, Mutombodzi 80) & 311-8d lead Mountaineers 261 (Muzarawetu 4-67) & 53-5 by 398 runs.
Day one report | Day two report
Daniel Grummitt
He worked for CricketWorld.com for almost three years, leading their county and domestic cricket coverage and contributing to a book about the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, before joining the hugely ambitious World Cricket Badger early in 2014.
The first Test that he remembers watching was on Channel 4 - back before the ECB marginalised potential future fans by selling the TV rights to Sky Sports - when England beat Pakistan by an innings and nine runs at Lord’s.
Besides a passion for domestic cricket, he also has an unexplainable interest in all things Zimbabwe cricket!
Latest posts by Daniel Grummitt (see all)
- LOGAN CUP: Tuskers crowned champions - March 6, 2015
- LOGAN CUP: Rhinos win keeps pressure on Tuskers - March 5, 2015
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