Mountaineers send Rocks tumbling to heavy defeat

Mega Market Mountaineers – 176 and 468-9 declared in 97.2 overs (Ben Compton 217, Joylord Gumbie 108, Tinashe Muchawaya 48; Brian Mudzinganyama 4/44, Roy Kaia 3/94, Priviledge Chesa 1/93)

Southern Rocks – 190 and 149 all out in 49.2 overs (Tafadzwa Tsiga 66*, Takudzwa Chataira 27, Roy Kaia 11; Victor Nyauchi 5/54, Shingi Masakadza 2/5, Donald Tiripano 2/21)

Mega Market Mountaineers won by 305 runs

A lone innings from Tafadzwa Tsiga saved Southern Rocks from complete disaster at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, but they still went down by 305 runs to give Mega Market Mountaineers their first victory of the Logan Cup campaign.

Rocks began the day in the unhappy situation of needing, in theory, 455 runs to win and having lost their first two wickets for 10 runs, the not-out batters being the opening batter Innocent Kaia with two and his cousin Roy Kaia yet to score.

Would they fight or would they run?

There was certainly very little fighting early on, as the batters played out three maiden overs before Innocent was bowled by Donald Tiripano for his overnight two, which took him 29 balls.

This brought in Cephas Zhuwao, kept in till the morning, but not even he showed much inclination to tackle the bowlers.

He did hit one four, but was eventually caught at the wicket off Victor Nyauchi for an uncharacteristic five off 16 balls.

Roy Kaia did hit a six and a four, but it took him 31 balls to score 11, and then Nyauchi removed him lbw, with the score now a miserable 35 for five wickets.

Richmond Mutumbami briefly showed some spirit in scoring eight off 11 balls before being caught off Tiripano – 37 for six.

Next to go were Blessed Muzite (2) and Travor Mutsamba (4), both falling to Shingi Masakadza to make the score 55 for eight wickets.

The only notable batter left now was Tsiga, who played a quiet game but at least was prepared to put up a fight instead of giving his wicket away weakly.

Priviledge Chesa stayed in with him, and the Mountaineers attack was at last blunted, when they had no doubt earlier expected the match to be over by lunch.

Instead at the interval the score was 83 for eight, with Tsiga on 28 and Chesa 11.

Lunch seemed to infuse Tsiga with vitamins, as on his return to the crease he hit Nyauchi for a four and a single, which brought him to face Wellington Masakadza.

In succession Tsiga hammered him for four, four, six and four to bring up his fifty off 83 balls.

However, he then lost Chesa, lbw to Nyauchi for 11 at 107 for nine.

The last man, Takudzwa Chataira, seemed inspired by Tsiga and hit Nyauchi for a two and two fours off consecutive deliveries, and another two boundaries in Nyauchi’s next over.

Tsiga hit Wellington Masakadza for another two sixes, but the brief spell of fun came to an end in the following over, when Chataira was bowled by Nyauchi for 27 off 29 balls to end the match at 149 all out.

Tsiga finished unbeaten with 66 off 100 balls, with three sixes and eight fours, an innings that enabled Rocks to lose with a little dignity and guns blazing even when it was all too late.

More resolution from the top order might have seen them save the match with the help of afternoon rain.

Nyauchi was again the best bowler for Mountaineers, taking five wickets for 54 runs, with two each for Tiripano and Shingi Masakadza.

2022/23 LOGAN CUP POINTS TABLE

 

How points are awarded:

• Win – 10 points

• Tie – 6 points

• Draw/washout – 5 points

• Win by an innings – 2 points

Bowling Points:

• 3 wickets – 1 point

• 5 wickets – 1 point

• 7 wickets – 1 point

• 9 wickets – 1 point

(Total bowling points permitted – 4)

Batting points:

• 200 team runs – 1 point

• 250 team runs – 1 point

• 300 team runs – 1 point

• 350 team runs – 1 point

(Total batting points permitted – 4)