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THE luncheon interval was delayed on the third day of this Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club yesterday to enable Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers to complete what proved to be an easy victory over Rising Stars by seven wickets.

They bowled out the home side for 86 and ran quickly to the 102 they needed for victory, although engaging in rather risky batting as they achieved their aim of winning before lunch. Rising Stars began the third day in serious trouble, with seven wickets down for only 46 runs in their second innings, an overall lead of 61, and with Ryan Murray, their only remaining specialist batsman, on five and all-rounder Brandon Mavuta yet to score.

Sean Williams and Ernest Masuku opened the bowling, and it took two overs before any runs came from the bat. After that, though, they became more confident, and were just looking capable of building a good stand when Masuku brought a ball back in to Murray and trapped him lbw for 15, scored off 55 balls; 68 for eight.

Njabulo Ncube scored four before being caught at the wicket off Masuku, leaving Mavuta to gather what runs he could with the last man Rugare Magarira at the crease. Magarira did not last long, poking unnecessarily at a ball from Masuku outside his off stump to edge it to the keeper, leaving Mavuta stranded on 22 not out.

Williams took four wickets for 26 and Masuku three for 13, though most of the bowlers bowled too many loose balls. The total was 86, leaving Tuskers with a target of only 102.

The Tuskers batsmen wasted no time, with Shoun Handirisi hitting two successive fours off the first over, bowled by Blessing Muzarabani, and between them the batsmen took nine runs off Magarira’s first over.

But such batting was unnecessarily reckless, and with his score at nine Cunningham Ncube miscued a pull to give midwicket a simple catch off the bowling of Muzarabani; 21 for one in only the third over of the innings. In the next over Handirisi was dropped in the covers as he drove at a ball from Magarira.

He and Brian Chari continued to attack most deliveries, and he paid the penalty when he swept a ball from Magarira to backward square leg after scoring 14 off 13 balls; 33 for two after six overs. Williams survived a difficult chance to the keeper off his first ball, but he and Chari kept up the attack, although taking risks at times.

Williams scored 26 off 32 balls before edging a ball from Njabulo Ncube to second slip, when the score was 87 for three and the normal time for lunch was imminent. Richmond Mutumbami was almost out first ball, as he slashed a ball into the slips, where a difficult chance was missed.

But in the next over he hit Mavuta for 13 runs, including a six and a four, to level the scores. The match ended when Njabulo Ncube bowled a bouncer over Mutumbami’s head, giving away the winning run. Chari was unbeaten with 37, the best-judged innings of his side, and Mutumbami 14.

Tuskers earned eight points from their victory, while Rising Stars earned two. The next inter-provincial matches take place on Friday, 1 December, as the one-day competition starts and Harare Metropolitan Eagles will play Midlands Rhinos at Harare Sports Club while Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers meet Manicaland Mountaineers in Bulawayo.

These will be followed by Logan Cup matches between the same teams at the same grounds, starting on Sunday, 3 December.

Scores

Rising Stars – 275 and 86 all out in 28.3 overs (Eddie Byrom 26, Brandon Mavuta 22*, Ryan Murray 15; Sean Williams 4/26, Ernest Masuku 3/13, Thabo Mboyi 2/14)

Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers – 260 and 102-3 in 18.2 overs (Brian Chari 37*, Sean Williams 26, Richmond Mutumbami 14*; Njabulo Ncube 1/6, Rugare Magarira 1/25, Blessing Muzarabani 1/28)

Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers won by seven wickets. — zimcricket