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Rangers – 221 and 214 all out in 66.3 overs (Clive Imbayago 67, Kyle Jarvis 36, Brian Mudzinganyama 35; Patrick Mambo 4/41, Faraz Akram 2/32, Tino Mutombodzi 2/48)
Eagles – 106 and 330-9 in 89 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 73, Regis Chakabva 63, Tony Munyonga 49*; Kyle Jarvis 6/76, Clive Chitumba 1/45, Charlton Tshuma 1/61)
Eagles won by one wicket
Tony Munyonga with the bat and Kyle Jarvis with the ball were the central figures in a thrilling finish in the Logan Cup match between Eagles and Rangers at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
But the unexpected hero at the death was Blessing Muzarabani of Eagles, who at number eleven in the tightest of situations, with his side struggling to score the final six runs for victory, hammered a six to bring off a sensational victory.
The day began with Eagles on 248 for five wickets in their second innings, needing to score 330 runs for victory; Munyonga had 26 and Patrick Mambo 42.
Jarvis began the day for Rangers with five wides — he bowled a ridiculous bouncer for his second ball that went far over the head of batsman and wicket-keeper alike to the boundary.
Then, however, he got one right, as Mambo (42) drove at a better-pitched delivery and was caught at the wicket.
Three balls later Faraz Akram, apparently contemplating a hook, gloved a catch also to the wicket-keeper.
Rangers were jubilant and Eagles apparently in disarray at 253 for seven wickets as the experienced Trevor Garwe joined Munyonga.
The pair tackled the crisis well.
They settled in rather anxiety at the start, but then began to accumulate runs, many of them nudges and pushes for quick singles, which they ran well.
By morning drinks they had raised the score to 290 for seven, when Munyonga had 38 and Garwe 23; they had added 37 and needed 40 more to win.
Rangers took the second new ball, but the 300 came up safely, and then Munyonga played his best stroke, a superb straight drive for four off Jarvis.
Then, just when it seemed hope had almost gone for Rangers, Garwe, having played a fine fighting innings of 31 in a stand of 55, dabbed at a ball from the heavily worked Jarvis and was well caught at third slip, making the score 308 for eight.
Two wickets were left now and 22 runs required as Tapiwa Mufudza joined Munyonga, who was on 47.
The next ball was a no-ball that went through for four byes, but Mufudza groped at the following delivery and edged to the keeper; Eagles 313 for nine now.
A ferocious but perhaps rather hopeful lbw appeal against the last man Blessing Muzarabani was rejected.
Munyonga took a single, leaving Muzarabani to face Charlton Tshuma, who bowled mostly just outside the off stump, enabling the batsman to let them pass.
Munyonga appeared rather too willing to take singles than to shield Muzarabani from the strike, but the fast bowler, fresh from a maiden first-class fifty against Rhinos last week, was handling the bowling well so far.
Muzarabani clipped a ball from Tshuma beautifully for four between mid-on and midwicket to take the score to 321, and now the lunch interval was delayed to enable a finish to the match first.
Munyonga meanwhile was struck on 49, and some good bowling and tight fielding kept him waiting on the verge of his fifty; and he was destined not to get there.
At 324 Muzarabani edged a ball from Tshuma low to the right of the keeper, who just failed to hold what would have been a brilliant catch.
Muzarabani was obviously willing to aim for the boundary if he thought he had a chance, and he saw one with the last ball of the over.
Tshuma pitched on the stumps, on a good length but drifting towards leg, and Muzarabani swung powerfully at it.
The ball soared over cow corner and the match was over, won by a six dramatically hit by the last man.
It was a great blow to Rangers, who had come so close to victory, but they had put in a remarkable performance throughout the match, coming close to victory against one of the Logan Cup’s strongest teams on their home ground.
They did owe a great deal to the experience of Jarvis, who finished with six wickets for 76, while Tshuma supported him well but only managed to take one wicket for 61.
Munyonga had held the Eagles batting together, never dominating, but keeping his end up and finishing with 49 not out off 138 balls, with three fours.
This is only the eighth occasion in the history of first-class cricket in Zimbabwe that a team has won a match by a single wicket, and the abiding memory will be that of Muzarabani’s startling six to clinch it.
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