REGIS Chakabva scored 138 runs off 124 balls at Kwekwe Sports Club yeterday, playing the leading part in putting Harare Metropolitan Eagles in a strong position in their Logan Cup match against Midlands Rhinos.

They eventually set Rhinos a target of 414 to win and had seized two of their wickets before play ended. The Eagles resumed their second innings in the morning with only five runs on the board for the loss of three wickets, meaning they were 48 runs ahead with seven wickets remaining.

The batsmen at the crease were Kudzai Maunze, with four, and the nightwatchman Herbert Chikomba yet to score. Maunze played his normal game and did most of the early scoring while Chikomba concentrated on survival, although he survived a chance to slip off Mike Chinouya when he was on five.

Chikomba lasted almost 45 minutes but was then trapped lbw by Chinouya for nine, leaving Eagles at 30-4. When Chakabva joined Maunze, the two batsmen began to dominate the bowling, scoring at almost a run a ball, and Maunze reached fifty off 64 balls. Just before lunch Chakabva joined him with fifty off 48 balls, and at the interval the score was 141 for four, with Maunze on 61 and Chakabva, after a flurry of boundaries, 64.

It took Chakabva only 31 balls to move from his fifty to his century, which therefore came off 79 balls, as he carried out a full assault on the bowlers. The stand finally added 185 runs at more than six an over, before James Bruce came on and trapped Maunze lbw for 78, which came off 121 balls and included nine fours.

Chakabva at this stage had reached 116 off only 93 balls, but he showed more restraint after the departure of Maunze, as he was joined by Tino Mutombodzi. Chakabva’s innings ended at 138, as he drove a catch to long-on off Bothwell Chapungu – he faced only 124 balls, and hit 16 fours and two sixes; Eagles were now 256 for six wickets.

Elton Chigumbura scored two when Brad Wadlan slipped a yorker under his bat and bowled him; 260 for seven. One run later tea was taken, with Mutombodzi on 20 and Nathan Waller one. After tea Waller attacked the bowling, and before being caught at long-off off the bowling of Wadlan scored 35 off 26 balls, with no fours but four sixes; 309 for eight.

Mutombodzi was now partnered by Trevor Garwe, and reached his fifty off 79 balls. At 370 for eight wickets he declared, leaving Rhinos a target of 414 to win the match, in a minimum of 101 overs. Mutombodzi was on 69, while Garwe had 20. Chinouya had the best bowling figures of three for 39, while Wadlan took two wickets.

Before the close Rhinos lost the wicket of Chapungu, who scored 21 off 24 balls, but was caught at mid-off from a leading edge off the bowling of Maunze. In the next over Tendai Maruma tried to hit Chikomba for six, only to hole out in the deep for 13; 36 for two. This was the score at the close, with the batsmen at the crease being Simba Gupo and Takudzwa Kaitano, both yet to open their accounts.

Scores

Harare Metropolitan Eagles — 321 and 370-8 declared in 81 overs (Regis Chakabva 138, Kudzai Maunze 78, Tino Mutombodzi 69*; Michael Chinouya 3/39, Brad Wadlan 2/87)

Midlands Rhinos — 278 and 36-2 in 11 overs (Bothwell Chapungu 21, Tendai Maruma 13; Herbert Chikomba 1/1, Kudzai Maunze 1/11)

Day 3 – Stumps: Midlands Rhinos require another 378 runs with eight wickets remaining. – Zimcricket

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