Chisoro weaves magic as Rocks condemn Eagles to innings defeat

Southern Rocks – 512-8 declared in 173.2 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 102, Innocent Kaia 88, Tafadzwa Tsiga 84; Marshal Takodza 2/25, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/105, Brad Evans 1/27)

Alliance Health Eagles – 166 and (following on) 229 all out in 82.5 overs (Will Fraine 88, Kudzai Maunze 39, Shoun Handirisi 28; Tendai Chisoro 5/35, William Mashinge 2/44, Privilege Chesa 2/84)

Rocks won by an innings and 117 runs

A devastating spell of left-arm spin bowling from Tendai Chisoro sent Alliance Health Eagles tumbling to defeat by an innings and 117 runs at the hands of Southern Rocks at Old Hararians Sports Club on Thursday.

The match ended with Chisoro taking the last five wickets in just 11 balls, including four wickets in an over, which in itself included a hat-trick – and all five wickets were taken without any help from the fielders.

Eagles began the day with a score of 156 for two wickets in the follow-on, with the Yorkshire professional Will Fraine on 83 and Marshal Takodza on nine.

Neither batter lasted long, with Fraine falling short of a century when he edged a catch to the wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami off the bowling of William Mashinge for 88 (179 balls and 13 fours), to make the score 163 for three wickets.

Eleven runs later, Takodza was run out for 11, and then Mashinge dismissed Tino Mutombodzi lbw for 17.

Shoun Handirisi and Brad Evans then made a stand, putting on 43 together for the sixth wicket, although the situation was looking increasingly hopeless for Eagles.

At 226, Chisoro won an lbw decision against Handirisi for 28 off the first ball of an over, and this was when the floodgates opened.

Tapiwa Mufudza survived two deliveries, but his third found him on his way back to the pavilion with another lbw decision.

The next two deliveries removed Tanaka Chivanga, who was bowled, and Daniel Jakiel, lbw, with the score now 226 for nine wickets at the end of a devastating over.

Mashinge bowled the next over to Evans, who scored a two, and there was also a no-ball – he was unable to take a single to take the strike against Chisoro.

The last man, Tadiwanashe Nyangani, had to faced Chisoro, and he managed to survive four balls before he fell to the fifth – yet another lbw decision.

Evans was left unbeaten with 17, while the score had gone from 226 for five wickets to 229 all out within three overs.

Chisoro’s final bowling figures were five wickets for 35 runs, taken off 11.5 overs.

Mashinge and Privilege Chesa took two wickets each.

Rocks, last season’s Logan Cup champions, began this match at the bottom of the Logan Cup log and without a victory, but they have now put that right in emphatic style, and still have a chance of retaining their title.

***************************************

Tuskers – 125 and 397 all out in 116.1 overs (Nick Gubbins 174, Tanu Makoni 67, Taffy Mupariwa 57; Tony Munyonga 4/90, Tendai Chatara 3/54, Timycen Maruma 1/13)

Mountaineers – 184 and 171-4 in 97.3 overs (Ben Compton 109*, Kevin Kasuza 20, Timycen Maruma 17; Ernest Masuku 2/49, Charlton Tshuma 1/16, Ainsley Ndlovu 1/24)

Match drawn

Ben Compton recorded his maiden first-class century as Mountaineers fought their way doggedly to a draw in their Logan Cup match against Tuskers at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Compton finished with 109 not out off 287 balls in seven hours, with 12 fours, and his team on 171 for four wickets, when play was called off about half an hour early due to bad light.

Mountaineers began the day on 55 for two, having been set a target of 339 for victory.

With five points on offer for a draw, they decided to aim for this, and successfully batted throughout the day to avoid defeat.

Compton waited for the right ball to hit, and then scored runs, but his partners were almost entirely committed to defence.

Kudzai Sauramba, his overnight partner, was soon out for five, bowled by Ernest Masuku at 66 for three.

Timycen Maruma batted for nearly two hours, facing 75 deliveries to score 17, before he was caught off Charlton Tshuma; 117 for four.

Tony Munyonga was totally committed to grim defence, blocking or leaving one ball after another as he stonewalled his team towards safety.

He scored just eight runs off 103 balls in almost two and a half hours in his unbroken partnership of 54 with Compton, and the match had reached the stage where a draw was likely even if bad light had not intervened.