Williams misses out on century but Welch makes sure

Tuskers – 314-7 in 87 overs (Sean Williams 88, Nkosana Mpofu 59, Clive Madande 48; Alex Russell 4/75, Faraz Akram 1/35, Wessly Madhevere 1/46)

Eagles –

Day 1 – Stumps

An innings of 88 by Sean Williams was the main ingredient in Tuskers’ first-innings total of 314 for seven wickets on the opening day of their four-day Logan Cup match against Eagles at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday.

Tuskers, put in to bat, made a sound start of 62 for the first wicket between their steady openers, Tanu Makoni with 28 and Nkosana Mpofu, who went on to make a patient 59 off 139 balls.

He left at 131 for three wickets, and then the runs began to flow freely as soon as Williams and Clive Madande added 87 for the fourth wicket in 17 overs before Madande was out for 48.

Williams looked set for a century when he was bowled out by a fine delivery from the Northamptonshire leg-spinner Alex Russell after scoring 88 off 96 balls, with a six and nine fours.

Hamid Ali and Luke Jongwe batted usefully for twenties before play ended with the score at 314 for seven wickets, Jongwe still there on 28.

Russell was the best bowler of the day, finishing with four good wickets, which included those of Makoni, Madande and Williams.

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Mountaineers – 283-6 in 86 overs (Nick Welch 125, Timycen Maruma 49*, Vincent Masekesa 32; Kudakwashe Macheka 1/6, Mike Chinouya 1/28, Trevor Gwandu 1/39)

Rhinos –

Day 1 – Stumps 

Nick Welch made his highest first-class score of 125 as Mountaineers scored 283 for six wickets against Rhinos in their Logan Cup match at Kwekwe Sports Club on Thursday.

Mountaineers suffered a bad start, as Joylord Gumbie was dismissed by Mike Chinouya in the first over without a run on the board, and then Matthew Welch retired hurt when he had scored only three runs.

PJ Moor, avoiding the Irish winter in Zimbabwe, was out for 14, but Nick found a very stubborn partner in Alistair Frost, who put his head down to score 30 of all of 120 balls in a third-wicket partnership of 113.

Nick completed his second first-class century and best score of 125 in fluent style, facing 151 balls and hitting two sixes and 15 fours.

Otherwise, most of the Mountaineers batters played cautious games, with Vincent Masekesa scoring 32 off 61 balls and Timycen Maruma playing an uncharacteristically quiet game to finish the day unbeaten with 49 off 100 deliveries.

Mountaineers finished the day with 283 for six wickets, Maruma’s overnight partner being Arinesto Vezha on two.

Chinouya and Brad Evans both bowled economically, but Brandon Mavuta was punished for 103 runs off 26 overs with only Frost’s wicket to his credit.

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