LOGAN CUP RESULT: Roy Kaia bags five as Mountaineers hold off dogged Rhinos effort

Mountaineers – 230 and 352 all out in 80.3 overs (Kevin Kasuza 86, Joylord Gumbie 63, Timycem Maruma 60; Brendon Mavuta 5/124, Tendai Chisoro 2/76,)

Rhinos – 269 and 308 all out in 79 overs (Prince Masvaure 89, Neville Madzima 77*, Bright Njanji 42; Roy Kaia 5/104, William Mashinge 2/19, Donald Tiripano 2/39)

Mountaineers win by 5 overs

Roy Kaia, better known for his batting skills, continues to make great strides as an off-spin bowler, and his superb performance with the ball was the main feature of the victory for Mountaineers over Rhinos today.

While at Harare Sports Club Eagles were beating Rangers by just one wicket, at Takashinga Sports Club Mountaineers’ victory was also close enough to enter the record books.

In the history of first-class cricket in Zimbabwe, only seven matches have been won or lost by a smaller margin than five runs.

The day began with Rhinos, needing 314 to win, having scored 170 for four wickets, with Bright Njanji not out on 38.

Kaia struck quickly in the morning, removing Njanji for 42.

The rest of the match was dominated by Neville Madziva with the bat and Kaia with the ball.

Mountaineers nearly missed the plot early on, as they failed to hold difficult chances offered by Madziva and Nyasha Mayavo.

William Mashinge removed Mayavo for 22, and there followed a brisk stand between Madziva and Tendai Chatara, who made 17.

Madziva played a superb innings, giving no further chances and only needing sufficient support from the later batsmen as Rhinos closed in on their target.

He put on 19 with Brandon Mavuta (8) and 15 with Carl Mumba (5), before the last man Tafara Chingwara joined him with 25 still needed for victory.

Amid great tension Chingwara held his end up without scoring for nine balls until Victor Nyauchi won an lbw appeal against him and the match was over.

Madziva was left stranded with 77 not out, scored off 118 balls and containing five fours and two sixes; this following on from his 80 in the first innings.

Kaia finished with five wickets for 104 in the innings, after taking four for 47 first time round.

Mountaineers are now looking to him as their most reliable spin bowler.

Donald Tiripano and William Mashinge both took two wickets, but Nyauchi, with figures of one for 58, was very unlucky.

Tiripano bowled superbly on the unsatisfactory pitch, causing the batsmen frequently to play and miss, and chances were missed off his bowling.

He deserved the honour of taking the final wicket, and Mountaineers were further handicapped by the loss of Tendai Chatara through injury during the first innings.