Zimpapers Logo

Brandon Moyo, [email protected] 

DOMESTIC cricket records were shattered in Bulawayo last weekend as Eagles dominated Tuskers in a 2024/25 Logan Cup encounter at Queens Sports Club.

Eagles posted a monumental 716/7 (declared), surpassing the previous Zimbabwean first-class record of 715/8 (declared) set by Midlands against Manicaland in 2002/03.

Eagles won the match by an innings and 205 runs with four centuries. 

It rounded up a good time out in Bulawayo for Eagles. A few days  prior to the Logan Cup game, they  had set a List A record against Tuskers as well. 

Tuskers captain Tafara Mupariwa

The Harare based side scored a massive 386/9 in 50 overs after they were asked to bat first by Tuskers, setting the highest team score ever made in a domestic List A match in Zimbabwean cricket. 

The only higher score by any Zimbabwean team, however, remains the 408/6 scored by the national side against the United States of America at Harare Sports Club in 2023.

In the Logan Cup game, Eagles won the toss and elected to field first. They bowled out Tuskers for 321 runs in 92,  1 overs before they went on to respond with a mammoth 716/7 (declared) in 149, 4 overs, setting up a massive lead of 395 runs going into the second  innings. 

The hosts would go on to crumble to just 190 runs all out in 34,3 overs to succumb to a massive defeat. 

There were two half centuries for Tuskers in the first innings from Nkosana Mpofu (59 runs off 139 balls) and Sean Williams (88 runs off 96 balls). Clive Madande fell two runs short off his half century on 48 runs. 

Leg spinner, Alex Russell, was the pick of the Eagles bowlers as he finished with figures of 5/77 in 22,1 overs while Faraz Akram claimed three scalps for 40 runs in 15 overs. 

Kudzai Maunze, Craig Ervine, Dion Myers and Tadiwanashe Marumani went on to lead Eagles’ charge with the bat, all scoring centuries. 

Myers top scored with a brilliant 179 runs off 178 deliveries while Ervine made 171 runs from 226 balls. Maunze fell for 113 runs after facing 193 balls with Marumani finishing unbeaten on 107 from 112 deliveries. 

Arnold Shara and Mpofu picked up two wickets apiece for Tuskers. 

In the second innings, only Ali Hamid put up much resistance to the Eagles bowling unit led by Russell. 

Hamid top scored for Tuskers with 76 runs off 59 balls while Williams made 25 runs off 22 deliveries.

Tuskers Cricket players

The Englishman, Russell, picked up yet another five-wicket haul in the second innings. He finished with figures of 5/63 in 12 overs. 

In the other Logan Cup match, Vincent Masekesa enjoyed another five-wicket haul as Rhinos never looked like challenging the 326 runs they needed for victory against Mega Market Mountaineers at Kwekwe Sports Club on Sunday.

Rhinos began day four with eight runs on the board in their  second innings and their opening partnership still intact, but it did not last long. 

Tendai Chatara made the initial breakthrough, removing Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Solomon Mire within three balls with the score on 16. 

There followed some resistance as Ben Curran (30) and Antum Naqvi (33) took the score to 63, but Masekesa removed them both. 

Six wickets were down for 118 and at this point Rhinos were virtually down and out. 

The end was delayed by Nyasha Mayavo with 46 runs and Brad Evans with 30, both hitting enterprisingly, but then Michael Frost with his left-arm spin dismissed them both. 

Masekesa whipped out the last two batters quickly, and the innings was over for 182, Mountaineers gaining a very comfortable victory. 

Frost took 3/53, while Masekesa had 5/63, giving him match figures of  12/180. 

The next round of Logan Cup matches is scheduled for November 25 with Eagles facing Rhinos in Harare while Mountaineers will welcome Southern Rocks in Mutare. — @brandon_malvin