Mid West Rhinos are the new leaders of Zimbabwe’s Logan Cup after they followed up their win over Matabeleland Tuskers last time out with a nine-wicket demolition of Mountaineers in Mutare.
The tone of the match was set from the start as Rhinos openers Bothwell Chapungu (74) and Brad Wadlan (75) added 144, with Prince Masvaure (65) and captain Vusi Sibanda (47) then adding 102 for the third-wicket to set up their eventual total of 419.
Mike Chinouya (4-74) and Neville Madziva (3-21) then dealt with the home side’s batting line-up, bowling them out for 206 with skipper Forster Mutizwa top-scoring with only 46, to help enforce the follow-on.
Mutizwa again led the defending champions’ effort second time around with a battling century. He and Kudzai Sauramba (55) added 82 for the third-wicket as Rhinos used nine bowlers in all. Mutizwa ended undefeated on 127 off 291 balls as they were finally all out in the 110th over for 310 to set Rhinos just 98 to win.
Wadlan followed up his handy haul of three for 40 by ending on 35 not out, with Masvaure the aggressor during their unbroken second-wicket stand, hitting three sixes to finish on 48 off just 34 deliveries.
Previous leaders Matabeleland Tuskers were defeated for the second time in as many matches as Mashonaland Eagles thrashed them by nine wickets in Harare.
The decisive moments in the contest occurred on the third day when the Eagles last-wicket pair of Brighton Mugochi and Taurai Muzarabani put on 140 to give their side a 75-run first innings lead in being bowled out for 382.
Trevor Garwe then skittled the Tuskers top-order in their second innings, reducing them to 20 for four. They could rally only to make 127 as Muzarabani followed up his maiden five-wicket haul from the first innings – which included a hat-trick – and his knock of 70 from number 11 by wrapping up the innings to end with two for 12. Greg Lamb took three for 46. Eagles knocked off the 53 needed in the fourth innings for the loss of Keith Kondo (23) early on the fourth day.
Earlier, Keith Dabengwa had hit the eighth first-class century of his long career to help Tuskers post 307 after they had been invited to bat. Muzarabani, though, ensured that Dabengwa would receive precious little support late on as the last six wickets fell for only 27 runs.
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
- LOGAN CUP: Sibanda hits century, Tuskers take control - March 4, 2015
