LOGAN CUP: Zhuwao runs riot as Rocks threaten to ruin Mountaineers’ title hopes

Southern Rocks – 303-4 in 90 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 152, Tadiwanashe Marumani 93, Roy Kaia 24*; Wellington Masakadza 2/41, Tendai Chatara 2/50)

Mountaineers –

Day 1 – Stumps

A mighty innings by Cephas Zhuwao at Harare Sports Club on Friday gave Southern Rocks an advantage over Mountaineers, who only have to avoid defeat in this match to win the Logan Cup.

Rocks, batting on winning the toss, lost Innocent Kaia without scoring in the second over of the match, lbw to Tendai Chatara.

That was the last success Mountaineers were to have for a long time, as Zhuwao came in to join Tadiwanashe Marumani and no further wicket fell for another 220 runs and four hours.

Zhuwao, who holds the first-class Logan Cup record for the highest innings of 265, had remarkably only scored one other century before today, but on this occasion he was in brilliant hitting form.

While Marumani held his end up and watched the fun, Zhuwao took the bowling apart with his powerful strokeplay.

He ran to his century off 99 balls and continued the slaughter.

However, as he approached 150 he seemed to become rather tired, his scoring slowed, and he was finally caught by Chatara off Wellington Masakadza for 152.

In four hours he hit six sixes and 18 fours, and the score on his dismissal was 211 for two.

None of the other batters really tried to dominate the bowling as Zhuwao had done, but played a more solid game.

Richmond Mutumbami scored 19 off 55 balls, and Marumani, after looking set for a century, was caught off Chatara for 93, which took him 243 balls in six hours and contained 10 fours.

Roy Kaia saw out the day with a careful 24, partnered by Tafadzwa Tsiga with six, the score then being 303 for four wickets.

With Rocks in such a strong position, Mountaineers have a hard fight ahead of them if they are going to claim the Logan Cup.