Tuskers, Rocks win as Logan Cup title race goes down to the wire

Tuskers – 394 and 340-8 declared in 93 overs (Samiullah 77, Brian Chari 65, Nkosana Mpofu 50; Wellington Masakadza 4/121, Victor Nyauchi 3/68, Salman Mirza 1/47)

Mega Market Mountaineers – 272 and 175 all out in 48 overs (Spencer Magodo 52, Donald Tiripano 25, Joylord Gumbie 22; Mamoon Ur Riaz 4/51, Luke Jongwe 2/12, Nkosana Mpofu 2/23)

Tuskers won by 287 runs

Some good bowling by the Pakistani paceman Mamoon Ur Riaz, who took four wickets for 51 runs, helped Tuskers to a 287-run victory over Mega Market Mountaineers, but with only nine overs to spare, at Takashinga Cricket Club on Sunday.

This was Tuskers’ first Logan Cup victory of the season and the first defeat for Mountaineers, who nevertheless stay in second place on the points table.

Having gained a first-innings lead of 122 over Mountaineers, Tuskers had by the close of play on day three strolled to 194 for two in 77 overs.

On the morning of the fourth and final day it appeared that they had suddenly woken up to the fact that they had a chance of victory in this match, and in a further 16 overs they hammered another 146 runs before they declared on 340 for eight wickets.

The overnight batters, Samiullah and Brian Chari, were soon out for 77 and 65 respectively, but Milton Shumba hit 36 off 32 balls and Clive Madande 31 off 24.

Luke Jongwe applied the finishing touches with 24 not out off only 10 balls, including two sixes and two fours.

This set Mountaineers the impossible target in the time left of scoring 463 for victory, or more likely surviving 57 overs to secure a draw.

After 15.1 overs it seemed as if Mountaineers were about to give away the match, as five wickets tumbled for only 44 runs.

Wellington Masakadza and Tony Munyonga were quickly removed by Ernest Masuku for three and zero respectively, while Timycen Maruma went next for 19 off 21 balls.

Jongwe removed Maruma and Brian Bennett with successive deliveries, and Mountaineers also lost Joylord Gumbie, who had fought well for 22 off 48 balls.

Then came a fightback, as Spencer Magodo and Donald Tiripano knuckled down and showed some firm resistance.

However, Magodo became carried away and, losing sight of the draw as the one important aim for the team, he began to attack vigorously.

He was successful for a while and reached his fifty, but after that was soon caught off Ur Riaz for 52 off 65 balls.

The score was now 123 for six in the 35th over, and one run later Shingi Masakadza was out too.

Tiripano emerged with the most credit, as he defended stoutly, and when he was finally caught at the wicket off Ur Riaz for 25 off 65 balls, the writing was on the wall for Mountaineers.

The last pair of Salman Mirza and Tendai Chatara came together with 16 overs remaining.

Mirza got his head down and played solidly but he was the man to go in the end, adjudged lbw to Nkosana Mpofu for 20 off 45 balls, leaving Chatara not out with 22 off 17.

Tuskers can count themselves rather fortunate to win, as the Mountaineers innings lasted only 48 overs and, with more responsible and determined batting, they should have secured a draw.

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Rhinos – 316 and 239 all out in 67.5 overs (Tarisai Musakanda 66, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 55, Remembrance Nyathi 52; Jalat Khan 6/70, Takudzwa Chataira 2/34, Dom Bess 1/23)

Southern Rocks – 417 and 139-4 in 28.5 overs (Roy Kaia 80*, Dom Bess 21, Eddie Byrom 19; Jabulisa Tshuma 2/48, Muhammad Adil 1/26, Victor Chirwa 1/34)

Southern Rocks won by six wickets

A dashing innings of 80 not out by Roy Kaia swept Southern Rocks to a straightforward six-wicket victory over Rhinos before lunch at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday.

Rocks were set a target of 139 runs for victory, of which they scored six overnight without loss.

Kaia, who did not face a ball opening the innings before close of play on day three, soon lost his partner, the night-watchman Takudzwa Chataira, for eight on Sunday morning, but he had support from the English professionals Eddie Byrom (19) and Dom Bess (21).

Johnathan Campbell was soon out for four just before victory was achieved, with Kaia cracking Victor Chirwa for two boundaries in three balls to end the match.

His 80 not out was scored off 87 balls in two hours, and he hit two sixes and 10 fours.

Rocks thus maintained their lead at the top of the Logan Cup table, but they have now completed their eight-match programme and will have to wait anxiously to see if Eagles or Mountaineers can overtake them in the final round of the tournament next week.

2023/24 LOGAN CUP POINTS TABLE

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