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Tuskers – 321 and 80-4 in 17 overs (Sean Williams 25, Nkosana Mpofu 24, Tanu Makoni 14; Richard Ngarava 2/37, Faraz Akram 1/13, Alex Russell 1/14)
Eagles – 716-7 declared in 149.4 overs (Dion Myers 179, Craig Ervine 171, Kudzai Maunze 113; Arnold Shara 2/95, Nkosana Mpofu 2/111, Prince Kaunda 1/67)
Day 3 – Stumps: Tuskers trail by 315 runs
Craig Ervine and Tadiwanashe Marumani completed the third and fourth centuries for Eagles against Tuskers at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday, helping their team compile the highest total ever amassed by any Zimbabwean team in first-class cricket.
Eagles scored a huge total of 716 with only seven wickets down before they declared on passing the previous record of 715 for eight wickets declared, by Midlands against Manicaland at Mutare Sports Club in 2002/03.
By the close Tuskers were on 80 for four wickets, still 315 runs in arrears with Sean Williams out for 25, and facing almost certain defeat on the fourth and final day.
Eagles began the day on 391 for two wickets, with Ervine on 57 and Wessly Madhevere 36.
Madhevere missed his opportunity of a big score by going out for 42, but Tony Munyonga (44) put on 80 for the fifth wicket with Ervine, who reached his second century in consecutive matches.
After Munyonga came another century partnership, as Marumani stayed in for 130 runs before Ervine was finally stumped for 171.
He faced 226 balls altogether and hit a six and 17 fours, out at 638 for six.
Faraz Akram went for nine, but Tapiwa Mufudza hit boldly and stayed while Marumani reached his century and the 700 went up.
Eagles declared as soon as the new record score had been achieved, with Marumani on 107 from 112 balls, the fastest of the four centuries scored in the innings, and he hit two sixes and 13 fours.
Mufudza hit six fours in his aggressive 29 not out.
Tuskers went in again 305 runs behind and they lost four wickets before the close, leaving Clive Madande (25) and Hamid Ali (3) at the crease overnight.
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Mountaineers – 393 and 225 all out in 51.4 overs (Mathew Welch 89, PJ Moor 27, Victor Nyauchi 21; Brandon Mavuta 5/115, Mike Chinouya 3/24, Antum Naqvi 1/28)
Rhinos – 293 and 8-0 in 3 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 4*, Ben Curran 3*)
Day 3 – Stumps: Rhinos need 318 runs
Brad Evans with 71 and Matt Welch with 89 were the only batters to do much for their respective teams, Rhinos and Mountaineers, on the third day of their Logan Cup match at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday, with leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa flourishing.
Rhinos began the day on 216 for six wickets in their first innings, needing to score 244 to avoid the follow-on – Nyasha Mayavo had 59 and Evans five.
Mayavo batted cautiously while Evans was more aggressive, and they had safely reached 263 before Mayavo was finally out for 70, scored off 106 balls.
The innings continued for another 30 runs, of which the last three batters scored precisely zero, while Evans hit boldly until he was caught and bowled by Masekesa for 71 off 82 balls, with a six and 10 fours.
Mike Chinouya played a fine supporting role in their ninth-wicket partnership of 29, being left with zero not out off 19 balls when the innings closed.
Masekesa took some punishment, as leg-spinners tend to do, but finished with the fine figures of seven wickets for 117 runs off 29 overs.
Mountaineers earned themselves a lead of exactly 100 runs, but their batting in the second innings was not convincing.
Their first seven wickets went down for 94 runs, with Brandon Mavuta showing Masekesa that he was not the only one capable of bowling leg-breaks.
Six of the batters dismissed reached double figures, but failed to build on this good start, the highest among them being 27 from PJ Moor.
The innings was saved by Mathew Welch, obviously still affected by his injury as he came in at number eight, but that could hardly be seen in his batting.
He hit out vigorously for 89 with four sixes and eight fours, being especially severe on Mavuta.
The innings closed for 225, leaving Rhinos chasing 326 to win on the final day, a difficult but by no means impossible task.
Mavuta finished with five wickets, but they cost him 115 runs off 23 overs.
The Rhinos openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Ben Curran survived the last three overs while scoring eight runs.
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