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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

SOUTHERN Rocks skipper Richmond Mutumbami and Roy Kaia responded to the opening round loss in the Logan Cup with centuries that put their team in a good position in their second game of the cricket season against Tuskers at Takashinga today.

Rocks finished their first innings on 355 runs.

Mutumbami led the way with his 156 runs while Kaia ended the match unbeaten on 103 runs.

Kaia had retired hurt shortly before lunch on the first day when he was still on five runs. But he returned later on to partner Mutumbami after Rocks had suffered a middle order glitch.

They lost Sikandar Raza (43), William Mashunge (0) and Cephas Zhuwao (0) in a space of just two overs to leave the side on 128/6.

But the pair of Mutumbami and Kaia held the fort overnight and put on a massive 204 run-partnership for the seventh wicket to lift Rocks to 332 runs.

Mutumbami however could only add 12 runs to his overnight score before he fell to Steve Chimhamhiwa early in the morning.

Tuskers then made light work of the tail-enders, leaving Kaia stranded on the other end. But Rocks should be satisfied with the first inning score which was an improved performance from the opening match, which they lost by an innings and 56 runs to Alliance Health Eagles.

Tuskers bowler Ernest Masuku had a good day in the office with his best bowling figures of 6/91. Nkosana Mpofu and Tanururwa Makoni started the chase for Tuskers.