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WELL DONE MATE . . . Tuskers pace bowler Chris Mpofu is congratulated by his teammates after taking another key wicket in their Logan Cup match against the Eagles

IT took them more than 70 overs on the final day of the match to finish the job but, finally, Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers beat Harare Metropolitan Eagles by 144 runs in the Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

The Eagles middle order put up a good fight for a while, with six successive batsmen in the order scoring more than 35, with a 78 by Regis Chakabva not enough to give the home team the miracle they needed. The fourth day began with Eagles on 59 for one after being set an impossible target of 509 to win. The overnight batsmen were Chamu Chibhabha on 34 and Kudzai Maunze on 15.

The weather this time was cool and overcast, though rain was not expected, and the pitch showing few signs of wear and reasonable for batting. Maunze showed early aggression, twice driving Thabo Mboyi for four in his first over of the day. Mboyi had better fortune when Chibhabha was facing, as he produced a fine yorker that bowled him out for 36; 72 for two. Chakabva, after his bad experience in the first innings, played very cautiously at first, but then began to open up and show some of his best form.

Steady batting was generally the order of the day, though, and the bowlers had to toil hard and be patient as Maunze reached his fifty off 75 balls. Three balls later, though, to his own chagrin, he drove powerfully at a ball from Luke Jongwe, but hit a catch straight to mid-off; 136 for three, and he was out for exactly 50. Tino Mutombodzi hit his first two balls, from Sean Williams, for four, and in fact four boundaries off the first six he faced, mostly flashing drives.

Chakabva reached fifty off 74 balls, while Mutombodzi calmed down a bit. At lunch Eagles had reached 191 for three, with Chakabva on 64 and Mutombodzi 28. Chris Mpofu was perhaps the best of the Tuskers bowlers, and he finally got his reward after lunch, when Chakabva (78) drove loosely outside the off stump and edged to the keeper; 209 for four.

Cephas Zhuwao was next in, and within a few minutes was slogging a ball from Sikandar Raza over the midwicket boundary for six. He followed this up with a straight six off Jongwe and another over long-on off Raza, all in his first 22 runs. Mutombodzi then reached his fifty, which took him 69 balls, but only five runs later he swung over a ball from Raza and was bowled; 263 for five. Nathan Waller then joined Zhuwao’s party, launching a ball from Raza over long-on for six. Zhuwao reached his fifty off 49 balls, but without addition he was gone, pushing forward to a ball from Raza and being given out lbw.

Overall Tuskers put up a powerful performance, their biggest strength being their middle-order batting of Craig Ervine, Williams and Raza. The next round of Logan Cup matches starts tomorrow. The two losing teams in the first round, Harare Metropolitan Eagles and Rising Stars, will meet at Takashinga Sports Club, while Manicaland Mountaineers and Midlands Rhinos play at Harare Sports Club, Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers having a bye.

Scores

Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers – 238 and 470-5 declared in 99 overs (Sean Williams 153, Sikandar Raza 110, Richmond Mutumbami 69*, Craig Ervine 63; Cuthbert Musoko 2/71, Trevor Garwe 1/42)

Harare Metropolitan Eagles – 200 and 364 in 92.4 overs (Regis Chakabva 78, Tino Mutombodzi 55, Cephas Zhuwao 50, Kudzai Maunze 50; Sikandar Raza 3/78, Sean Williams 3/108, Chris Mpofu 2/78)

Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers won by 144 runs. — zimcricket