Maruma hits another ton as Mountaineers edge closer to retaining title

Mountaineers – 452-9 declared in 107.4 overs (Timycen Maruma 120, Forster Mutizwa 85, Natsai M’shangwe 60; Chamu Chibhabha 3/89, Elton Chigumbura 2/44, Honest Ziwira 2/70)

Eagles – 27-2 in 7.1 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 17*, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 9; Victor Nyauchi 2/7)

Day 2 – Stumps: Eagles trail by 425 runs with eight wickets remaining in the innings

A fine batting display by the Mountaineers batsmen, headed by a fine century from Timycen Maruma, has probably buried Eagles’ hopes of wresting the Logan Cup from the reigning champions this year.

Eagles almost certainly need to win this match to do so, seeing that Mountaineers have a match in hand against Tuskers, but they finished the second day facing a total of 452 and having two wickets down for only 27 runs.

A rain-spoiled first day ended with Mountaineers at 124 for three wickets, with Forster Mutizwa on 72 and Maruma on 24.

These two eventually put on 125 together for the fourth wicket, before Mutizwa was out for 85.

The credit for his dismissal goes to the young medium-pacer Honest Ziwira, whose tight bowling frustrated Mutizwa until he played a loose shot and was caught at the wicket.

But it brought no great relief to Eagles, as Maruma was in superb form and never looked like getting out, and Tafadzwa Tsiga, as in the previous match, played a very sound innings, so that the pair put on 86 together.

Maruma recorded his second century in successive matches, scoring 120 off only 121 balls, with 18 fours and a six.

Further good innings came from the all-rounders Donald Tiripano, with a solid 25, and Shingi Masakadza, with a powerful 47 off 50 balls, including three fours and four sixes – both were dismissed at the same score, 365.

But Mountaineers were not finished yet.

The promising young all-rounder William Mashinge batted very soundly at one end for 24 not out, while at the other Natsai M’shangwe enjoyed one of his occasional days when his extravagant tail-end slogging came off.

He thrashed the bowling for 60 runs off 57 balls, with four sixes and four fours, and when Eagles finally got rid of him Mountaineers declared at 452 for nine wickets.

There was much good batting and the bowling was of generally high quality, although some of the bowlers struggled against tiredness towards the end.

The poorest department of the game was the fielding, because Eagles again dropped a couple of vital catches that cost them many runs.

Richard Ngarava bowled persistently and well, but was rewarded with only one wicket, while Trevor Garwe pulled a leg muscle and had to leave the field.

This meant that Elton Chigumbura was pressed into bowling, and he did a good job at a steady medium pace, with accurate line and length.

Eagles had to bat for what proved to be just over half an hour, and during that time lost two wickets for 27 runs, both to Victor Nyauchi.

Tinashe Kamunhukamwe was out lbw for nine, and Tony Munyonga, sent in as night-watchman, lasted 14 balls but was bowled by the last ball of the day.

Cephas Zhuwao is still there with 17 not out, and Eagles have a number of good batsmen to come, but their chances of matching the Mountaineers score and winning the match are very small, especially with rain looming.

2018/19 Logan Cup points table