Zhuwao runs riot as Rocks threaten to ruin Mountaineers’ title hopes
Southern Rocks – 303-4 in 90 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 152, Tadiwanashe Marumani 93, Roy Kaia 24*; Wellington Masakadza 2/41, Tendai Chatara 2/50)
Mountaineers –
Day 1 – Stumps
A mighty innings by Cephas Zhuwao at Harare Sports Club on Friday gave Southern Rocks an advantage over Mountaineers, who only have to avoid defeat in this match to win the Logan Cup.
Rocks, batting on winning the toss, lost Innocent Kaia without scoring in the second over of the match, lbw to Tendai Chatara.
That was the last success Mountaineers were to have for a long time, as Zhuwao came in to join Tadiwanashe Marumani and no further wicket fell for another 220 runs and four hours.
Zhuwao, who holds the first-class Logan Cup record for the highest innings of 265, had remarkably only scored one other century before today, but on this occasion he was in brilliant hitting form.
While Marumani held his end up and watched the fun, Zhuwao took the bowling apart with his powerful strokeplay.
He ran to his century off 99 balls and continued the slaughter.
However, as he approached 150 he seemed to become rather tired, his scoring slowed, and he was finally caught by Chatara off Wellington Masakadza for 152.
In four hours he hit six sixes and 18 fours, and the score on his dismissal was 211 for two.
None of the other batters really tried to dominate the bowling as Zhuwao had done, but played a more solid game.
Richmond Mutumbami scored 19 off 55 balls, and Marumani, after looking set for a century, was caught off Chatara for 93, which took him 243 balls in six hours and contained 10 fours.
Roy Kaia saw out the day with a careful 24, partnered by Tafadzwa Tsiga with six, the score then being 303 for four wickets.
With Rocks in such a strong position, Mountaineers have a hard fight ahead of them if they are going to claim the Logan Cup.
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Alliance Health Eagles – 169 all out in 56.5 overs (Kudzai Maunze 57, Wessly Madhevere 26, Brad Evans 18; Ronald Masocha 5/28, Mike Chinouya 3/43, Brandon Mavuta 2/47)
Rhinos – 81-3 in 24 overs (Prince Masvaure 36*, Ryan Burl 18, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 16; Wessly Madhevere 1/6, Tanaka Chivanga 1/23, Richard Ngarava 1/34)
Day 1 – Stumps: Rhinos trail by 88 runs
A fine début bowling performance of five wickets by Ronald Masocha gave Rhinos an encouraging day as they play their final Logan Cup match against Alliance Health Eagles, whom they dismissed for 169.
This match is being played at Old Hararians Sports Club between the bottom two teams on the Logan Cup table.
Rhinos won the toss and put Eagles in to bat.
With the very first ball of the match, Mike Chinouya dismissed the debutant Eagles opening batter Kumbirayi Phiri lbw.
Will Fraine played a dogged innings of 12 before he was caught off the bowling of the medium-paced debutant Masocha.
Kudzai Maunze, batting steadily, was then joined by Wessly Madhevere, and they put on what was to be the highest partnership of the innings, 55 for the third wicket, before Madhevere was caught off Brandon Mavuta for 26.
Maunze went on to reach his fifty and was eventually caught off Masocha for 57, which took him 112 balls and included six fours.
The remaining batters never settled in, although four of them reached double figures but could not make it to 20.
Tino Mutombodzi, captaining the side today, was caught off Mavuta for one.
Brad Evans briefly gave his team hope by running to 18 off 17 balls, but then he was caught at the wicket off Masocha.
The innings subsided for only 169, with Masocha enjoying a memorable début by taking five wickets for only 28 runs in 11 overs.
Chinouya also did well to take three wickets for 43 runs.
When Rhinos went in, Takudzwanashe Kaitano went on the attack, but rather burned his candle at both ends, as after only three overs he was bowled by Richard Ngarava for 16 off 15 balls, with a six and two fours.
Charles Kunje scored only two before Tanaka Chivanga had him caught at the wicket, and Rhinos were not looking good with two down for 26.
However, Prince Masvaure was still there, batting confidently, and finished the day on 36 not out.
Ryan Burl scored 18, but he was out lbw to Madhevere just before the close of play, which came at 81 for three wickets, with Remembrance Nyathi on two.
