Two disastrous run-outs destroyed Matabeleland Tuskers’ chances of beating Mashonaland Eagles at Country Club on Friday, and the potentially exciting finish never materialised as Mashonaland Eagles ran out easy winners by 60 runs.  

The reigning Logan Cup champions were set 184 runs to win their first match of the season, but the run-outs of Nkosana Mpofu and Luke Jongwe destroyed their chances.  Apart from Jongwe, there was very little fight shown by the champions.

Matabeleland Tuskers resumed on their overnight score of 35 for two wickets, with Mpofu on 23 and Mbekezeli Mabuza five.

Considering the fragility of their tail, it was vital for them that their top-order batsmen should stay in and compile large partnerships if they were to win the match.

Unfortunately for them, this never happened.  Mpofu soon got the score moving, helped by some rather wayward bowling, but disaster struck as he was run out for 31 by Herbert Chikomba, as Mabuza called for a quick single.  This was the vital wicket for Mashonaland Eagles, who celebrated wildly. It left the score 44 for three.  Three runs later Godwill Mamhiyo flicked a catch to midwicket off Trevor Garwe.

The fifth-wicket pair was Matabeleland Tuskers’ last real hope, as their tail consists at present of their last five batsmen.

Jongwe showed his intention to fight by driving his first ball, a half-volley from Garwe, handsomely straight for four.  His policy was attack, the only one which seems to work on this pitch, and he managed to persuade the dogged Mabuza to start scoring as well, after being stuck on five for more than half an hour.

The pair added 43 in less than 10 overs, and hopes were stirring again for the visitors.  But then Mabuza became too adventurous, as he advanced down the pitch to a ball from Chikomba and was bowled for 18: 90 for five, and the tail was exposed.

Victory was not impossible as long as Jongwe was there, if only he could find one of the tail able to stay with him.  But, with only a single added, he became too desperate to keep the strike, and quick work by Regis Chakabva, the wicketkeeper, removed him before he could regain his ground after being rightly sent back.  He made 30 runs off 29 balls, and his dismissal ensured the doom of his team.

Cunningham Ncube was bowled by Chakabva for four, but Tawanda Mupariwa and John Nyumbu – who batted as if they were playing for a draw – survived until lunch, when the score was 110 for seven.  Mupariwa flashed at the third ball after the break, from Garwe, and edged to the keeper for five off 33 balls.  Nyumbu (5 off 37 balls) and Kyle Bowie (5 off a more reasonable 13) were also out from flashes to the keeper, and the match was over 25 minutes after lunch.

Garwe, despite being inconsistent, had the best figures of four wickets for 40 runs.

Mashonaland Eagles – 88 and 233 all out in 65.5 (Tinotenda Mutombodzi 72; John Nyumbu 4/63, Kyle Bowie 2/33, Luke Jongwe 2/61)

Matabeleland Tuskers – 138 and 123 all out in 51.3 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 31; Trevor Garwe 4/40)

Mashonaland Eagles won by 60 runs. – zimcricket

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