Gubbins ton leaves Mountaineers with a mountain to climb
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 55-2 in 32 overs (Ben Compton 32*, Kevin Kasuza 20, Kudzai Sauramba 1*; Ainsley Ndlovu 1/15, Ernest Masuku 1/25)
Day 3 – Stumps: Mountaineers need 284 runs
With Nick Gubbins taking his score to 174 on Wednesday, Tuskers were able to complete their second innings on a high note and set Mountaineers a target of 339 for victory in their Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club.
Tuskers, having fallen behind Mountaineers by 59 runs on the first innings, were 223 for two wickets in their second innings overnight, with Gubbins on 135 and Milton Shumba on four.
Shumba did not last long, being caught off Donald Tiripano for 17, but Taffy Mupariwa came in next to give Gubbins good support as he continued to plunder the bowling.
He looked well set for a double-century, but when he reached 174 he was dismissed lbw to Tony Munyonga, having faced 221 deliveries and hit 27 fours.
The score was now 282 for four wickets.
The main feature of the innings after this was a sixth-wicket partnership of 65 between Mupariwa and Clive Madande, both going on to record fifties, with Madande being the more aggressive of the two.
Charlton Tshuma (11 not out) played his part in a last-wicket partnership of 27 which enabled Madande to complete his fifty before he was last out for 54, scored off 77 balls.
The final total was an impressive 397, which enabled them to set Mountaineers a target of 339 to win.
Munyonga took four of the Tuskers’ wickets for 90 runs, while Chatara had three for 54 to his credit off 22 overs, always difficult to score from.
Very anxious not to lose a wicket before the close, Kevin Kasuza and Ben Compton played with the utmost care.
However, just before the close Kasuza was caught off Ernest Masuku for 20, which took him 85 balls, and almost immediately Clive Chitumba, coming in as night-watchman, was caught at the wicket off Ainsley Ndlovu.
Compton survived the day with 32 not out, and Kudzai Sauramba one, but they face a stern fight for victory on Thursday.
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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) 156-2 in 52 overs (Will Fraine 83*, Kudzai Maunze 39, Chamu Chibhabha 22; Privilege Chesa 2/68)
Day 3 – Stumps: Alliance Health Eagles trail by 190 runs
Will Frayne played two sturdy fighting innings as Alliance Health Eagles struggled to keep their Logan Cup match against Southern Rocks alive at Old Hararians Sports Club.
He made the highest score of 45 in the first innings and at the close of play he was not out with 83 as Eagles followed on.
Eagles began the day in the difficult position of having two wickets down for only 34 runs in reply to the huge Rocks score of 512 for eight wickets declared.
Frayne had 10 and Chamu Chibhabha six.
Chibhabha was quickly caught off Tendai Chisoro without adding to his score, making three wickets down for 38, but then Marshal Takodza joined Frayne and the pair fought hard to steady the innings.
They did well to take the score past 100, until at 110 Innocent Kaia trapped Takodza lbw for 41, after a valuable partnership of 72.
Disaster struck as three wickets fell at this score, with Tino Mutombodzi being run out after facing only one ball, and then Frayne was caught off Innocent Kaia for a solid 45, scored off 127 balls.
With six wickets down now, Eagles were in deep trouble.
Shoun Handirisi tried to hit his way out of trouble, striking three boundaries before being caught at the wicket off Privilege Chesa for 16.
Brad Evans tried to carry on the fight, but he received little support from the next two batters, and was himself last out for 25, lbw to Innocent Kaia.
Innocent Kaia had taken three vital wickets for 30 runs, while Chisoro and Chesa also took three wickets in the innings.
The score was 166 all out, a serious deficit of 346 on the first innings, and naturally Rocks enforced the follow-on.
By the close they were making a much better show in their second innings.
Frayne was again the rock of their innings opening the batting, and the first partnership put on 58, with Kudzai Maunze playing a fluent innings of 39 off 47 balls.
Chibhabha batted more cautiously, but was out for 22, so Takodza had to see out the day with Frayne, who will start the final day on 83 and hoping for a century.
Eagles, on 156 for two wickets, as a team will be hoping to fight successfully for a draw, which is probably their only hope – but they have a big task in front of them.
