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Brandon Moyo Sports Reporter

MEGA Market Mountaineers proved too strong for Southern Rocks in the 2022/23 Logan Cup  rst class cricket competition winning by a huge margin of 305 runs at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Having declared their innings on 468-9 on the third day, Mountaineers managed to bowl out their opponents Rocks for 149 to register their  rst win of the season having lost one and had one match ending in a draw.

In the  rst innings, Mountaineers were bowled out for 176 runs with Shingi Masakadza top scoring with an unbeaten 55 runs while Ben Compton fell  ve runs short of a half century. Rocks scored 190 runs in their  rst innings, however no batsmen managed to score a 50 with the top scorer being Innocent Kaia with 42 runs.

Mountaineers’ second innings was orchestrated by a brilliant maiden double century from Compton and another well batted ton from Joylord Gumbie.

Compton scored 217 while his opening partner, Gumbie fell for 108 runs. Low order batsman, Tinashe Muchawaya missed out on a half century falling on 48 runs as Mountaineers set up a huge target of 455 runs for the Rocks.

It turned out to be a mountain to climb for Rocks who lost early wickets by the end of day three on Tuesday. Rocks  nished day three on 10-2, needing a near impossible 445 runs for the win and it took Mountaineers just over two sessions to bowl out their opponents.

A Mountaineers and Tuskers player toss at Harare Sports Club in a match played recently

A  ve wicket haul from Victor Nyauchi took Mountaineers home. Nyauchi  nished with  gures of 5/54 in 18.2 overs while Donald Tiripano and Masakadza had two scalps each. For Rocks with the bat, Tafadzwa Tsiga put up a  ght with an unbeaten half century.

Tsiga  nished with 66 runs from 100 deliveries and was supported by another low order batsman, Takudzwa Chataira who fell for 27 runs o 29 deliveries.

None of the Rocks’ top order managed to cross double  gures. e win took Mountaineers to second place in the league standings with 49 points,  ve ahead of third placed Tuskers who have 45 points.

Eagles are leading the pack with 83 points while Rhinos in fourth place have 37 points, 10 more than bottom-placed Rocks who are on 27 points.

e league will go into a break and is set to resume on January 7, 2023 where Tuskers will face Mountaineers and Rhinos have a date with Rocks. — @brandon_malvin