#LOGANCUP DAY 2: Chakabva’s brilliant century shores up Eagles

Tuskers – 193 and 55-2 in 20.4 overs (Cunningham Ncube 29*, Brian Chari 21; Blessing Muzarabani 1/8, Tapiwa Mufudza 1/23)

Eagles – 261 all out in 77.3 overs (Regis Chakabva 115, Patrick Mambo 33, Richard Ngarava 27; Sikandar Raza 3/43, Sheunopa Musekwa 3/49, Ernest Masuku 2/51)

Day 2 – Stumps: Tuskers trail by 13 runs with eight wickets remaining

A brilliant innings of 115 by Zimbabwe international wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva pulled Eagles out of a hole and gave them an advantage in their Logan Cup match against Tuskers at Takashinga Sports Club today.

Eagles opened the day at 35 for one wickets in reply to Tuskers’ first-innings total of 193; Tinashe Kamunhukamwe had 15 and the night-watchman Tapiwa Mufudza five.

The three-man Tuskers seam-bowling attack were in fine form and wickets soon fell: Mufudza was out before a run had been added, while Kamunhukamwe was out for 15 and Tony Munyonga for nine, the last two to Ernest Masuku.

With Tino Mutombodzi out for 10 and the debutant Tinashe Nenhunzi for one, Eagles were in deep trouble at 101 for six and looked like falling behind on the first innings after all.

But Chakabva was still there, and when he was joined by Patrick Mambo the tables began to turn.

Mambo decided to hit, and for a while it came off.

He hit 33 off 35 balls, with six fours and a six, but then with the score at 165 he was trapped lbw by Ainsley Ndlovu, who put in a very fine spell of left-arm spin.

The much-improved Blessing Muzarabani only made five this time, but then Chakabva at last found the ideal partner in Richard Ngarava.

Ngarava played a very sensible game, keeping his end up without taking the risks that Mambo had done, waiting for the loose balls, while Chakabva was able to take charge and dominate the bowling.

Tuskers had only themselves to blame for this partnership, as Chakabva was dropped just before he reached 50 and Tuskers paid dearly for this error.

The pair put on 78 runs together before Ngarava was finally dismissed for a very noble 27, and soon after Chakabva, hitting out, was the last man dismissed, for 115.

He faced 138 balls and hit four sixes and 13 fours.

The total was 261 and after his fine effort Eagles were left with a first-innings lead of 68.

Sheunopa Musekwa and Sikandar Raza both took three wickets, while Masuku and Ndlovu had two each.

Tuskers began quite well in their second innings, as the opening pair put on 46 together before Brian Chari was out lbw to Mufudza for 21.

He was quickly followed by Nkosana Mpofu, bowled without scoring by Muzarabani, who put in a fine spell of bowling.

At the close Cunningham Ncube was still there with 29, while Aarsh Jha has yet to score.

Tuskers are still 13 runs behind with two wickets down, but Eagles coach Stuart Matsikenyeri is concerned that the difficult pitch may deteriorate further as the match progresses, and if Tuskers bat well enough to set them a reasonable target, it could prove very hard to get.