LOGAN CUP DAY 2: Wellington Masakadza’s maiden half-century rescues Mountaineers

Mountaineers – 239 all out in 72.4 overs (Wellington Masakadza 70, William Mashinge 40, Richmond Mutumbami 26; Ainsley Ndlovu 4/59, Chris Mpofu 3/33, Ernest Masuku 2/49)

Tuskers – 148-9 in 39 overs (Craig Ervine 34, Chris Mpofu 20*, Charles Kunje 20; William Mashinge 3/37, Victor Nyauchi 2/19, Tendai Chatara 2/30)

Day 2 – Stumps: Tuskers trail by 91 runs with one wicket remaining in the first innings

Wellington Masakadza starred with bat rather than ball as Mountaineers reasserted themselves in their position as Logan Cup champions on Friday after a disastrous first day’s play against Tuskers at Old Hararians Sports Club.

Mountaineers began the second day with a score of 97 for seven wickets against some fine bowling, and with all their leading batsmen gone.

Perhaps, though, Tuskers were a little complacent after doing so well, as they quite failed to keep up the pressure on the overnight batsmen, William Mashinge and Masakadza.

With Masakadza playing the leading role, the pair dug in with great determination, and they put on no fewer than 121 for the eighth wicket in 38 overs, before Mashinge was out for 40.

Both batsmen recorded their highest first-class scores, with Masakadza recording a maiden fifty, and when he was finally last man out he had taken his score to 70 off 152 balls, with eight fours.

There had been fine bowling on the first day from particularly Chris Mpofu, who finished with three for 33 off 17 overs, well backed up by Ainsley Ndlovu (four for 49) and Ernest Masuku (two for 49), but they were unable to split the eighth-wicket pair until they had taken the score past 200, and eventually to 239.

Tuskers were unable to challenge this with the bat, against good bowling and the failure of their own batsmen to build on good starts.

They lost both their openers for 24 runs — Brian Chari made five and Nkosana Mpofu 12.

Seven of their batsmen were to reach double figures, but only one even passed a score of 20 or faced as many as 40 deliveries, revealing poor application.

The only batsman to pass 20 was Tuskers’ leading batsman, Craig Ervine, who went on to 34, and Mountaineers were particularly delighted to remove him to a catch by Timycen Maruma off the bowling of Donald Tiripano.

Overall the batsmen came, scored a few and then fell victim to the persistent four-man Mountaineers seam bowling attack.

Mashinge was to finish an excellent day for him with three wickets, while Tendai Chatara, Victor Nyauchi and Tiripano took two each, all keeping up the pressure against too many batsmen who weren’t prepared to fight it out for long innings.

Mpofu was still there at the close, when the total was 148 for nine wickets — he has 20, so could become only the second batsman on the side to pass that score when play resumes.

His partner is Ndlovu, with four.

Tuskers have some serious questions to ask themselves how they could so lose the initiative after doing so well on the first day of this match, so that now, if the weather holds, they are facing likely defeat.