Zimpapers Logo

Tuskers were bowled out on the final day, 38 runs short of Mountaineers’ 328, who extended their lead at the top of the points table.
Mountaineers’ total was set up by half-centuries from Kevin Kasuza (92), captain Hamilton Masakadza (82) and Timycen Maruma (62).

This was after Bernard Mlambo and Kasuza gave Mountaineers a solid start, putting on 92.
Masakadza and Maruma built on that platform, and at one stage, Mountaineers were 296/3.

But Keegan Meth started the slide, having Maruma caught behind, and four overs later, dismissed Masakadza.
He then ripped through the tail as Mountaineers lost their last seven for 32 runs.

Meth finished with a career-best six for 58.
Tuskers were off to a poor start as Chatara led an opening burst that left them reeling at 32 for three.

But Steven Trenchard and Adam Wheater revived them with a busy 147-run partnership.
Wheater (80) fell to legspinner Natsai Mushangwe but Trenchard carried on in the company of captain Gavin Ewing. Chatara returned to bowl Ewing, and removed Meth in his next over.
Trenchard meanwhile had completed his maiden first-class hundred off only 119 balls with eight fours and four sixes.

When he was trapped leg-before by Maruma though, Tuskers’ hopes of taking the lead quickly evaporated.
Chatara got the last wicket to end with 5 for 56.
In a bottom of the table match, Simbarashe Gupo’s maiden century, and legspinner Tinotenda Mutombodzi’s seven-wicket haul allowed Mashonaland Eagles to take first-innings points against Southern Rocks at Masvingo Sports Club.

After the 217-run opening stand between Gupo and Prince Masvaure (79), only a collapse could have prevented Eagles from amassing a huge score. Gupo hit 25 fours in his 147 off 212 deliveries.
After the openers fell, Eagles lost regular wickets despite forties from Cephas Zhuwawo and Andrew Hall. At 374/8, 400 would take some doing, but Chad Keegan (82) and Innocent Chinyoka (54) prolonged Rocks’ stay on the field with a patient 132-run partnership.

Rocks used nine bowlers and eight of them managed to get wickets, but Eagles ultimately posted 510.
Mutombodzi had Rocks in trouble at 24 for 3 but Chamu Chibhabha (80) and Sikandar Raza (93) resisted in a 147-run stand. Mutombodzi dismissed both of them before Rocks had reached 200, and after that only Robertson Chinyengetere (71) put up a fight. The rest wasted starts and Rocks fell well short at 379, Mutombodzi finishing with 7 for 137. Gupo carried on from the first innings with an unbeaten half-century as Eagles made 140 for 5 in their second innings, before the game was called off. — Cricinfo.com.