Hundreds, fifties and five-wicket hauls liven up Logan Cup action

Southern Rocks – 512-8 declared in 173.2 overs (Tadiwanashe Marumani 102, Innocent Kaia 88, Tafadzwa Tsiga 84; Marshal Takodza 2/25, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/105, Brad Evans 1/27)

Alliance Health Eagles – 34-2 in 13 overs (Kudzai Maunze 11, Will Fraine 10*, Chamu Chibhabha 6*; Tendai Chisoro 2/18)

Day 2 – Stumps: Alliance Health Eagles trail by 478 runs

A monumental maiden first-class century from Tadiwanashe Marumani paved the way for a record total by Southern Rocks in almost two full days’ play in their Logan Cup match against Eagles at Old Hararians Sports Club.

The first day of this game was characterised by slow batting.

Rocks, batting first on winning the toss, batted throughout the day to score 222 runs for the loss of just one wicket, the man out being Innocent Kaia, who scored 88 off 194 balls in an opening partnership of 153 with Marumani.

Marumani batted from start to finish for 88 not out at the close, in company with the Northamptonshire professional Ben Curran, who had 42.

On the morning of day two, Marumani went on to complete his century, 102 runs off no fewer than 361 deliveries, in almost seven-and-a-half hours, with nine fours and two sixes in his brighter moments.

He was dismissed just after Curran went for 75, which took him 144 balls.

The pair put on 137 for the second wicket, and both batters were dismissed in quick succession, lbw to Tapiwa Mufudza.

The later batters were more enterprising, although the Eagles bowlers still struggled for success.

Roy Kaia scored 34 off 42 balls and the captain, Richmond Mutumbami, 37 off 66 balls, and the score was 368 for five wickets when he was out.

But the tribulations of the Eagles were not over yet, as Tafadzwa Tsiga and William Mashinge shared a partnership of 127 for the sixth wicket, both scoring fifties.

Tsiga scored 84 off 132 balls and Mashinge 59 off 102, a fair rate of scoring without really taking full advantage of the exhausted bowlers.

Seven wickets were down when the 500 came up, and on the dismissal of Tsiga the innings was declared closed, at 512 for eight wickets.

The whole innings took 173.2 overs and almost exactly 11 hours – it is a new record score for Rocks, beating their 505 for eight wickets declared against Mountaineers last November.

Mufudza in the whole innings bowled 56 overs, with 19 maidens, and took two wickets for 105 runs, a fine marathon performance.

Marshal Takodza, coming on near the end, had it much easier, dismissing Tsiga and Mashinge to take two wickets for 25 in 8.2 overs.

Eagles opened their innings with their overseas professional from Yorkshire, Will Fraine, and Kudzai Maunze.

Tendai Chisoro opened the bowling and before the close of play he took two wickets, removing Maunze for 11 and the night-watchman, Tanaka Chivanga, for one.

Eagles were struggling at 34 for two wickets at the close – Fraine is still there with 10 and Chamu Chibhabha has six.

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Tuskers – 125 and 223-2 in 59 overs (Nick Gubbins 135*, Tanu Makoni 67, Milton Shumba 13*; Timycen Maruma 1/13, Tendai Chatara 1/22)

Mountaineers – 184 all out in 67.1 overs (Joylord Gumbie 63, Ben Compton 42, Tony Munyonga 30; Ernest Masuku 5/52, Steve Chimhamhiwa 3/38, Nick Gubbins 1/2)

Day 2 – Stumps: Tuskers lead by 164 runs

After two low-scoring first innings scores, a dashing century from Tuskers’ overseas player, Nick Gubbins from Middlesex, valuably supported by Tanu Makoni, put them in a good position against Mountaineers at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

In contrast to the high scoring at Old Hararians, the first day’s play here saw Tuskers bowled out for 125, following which Mountaineers were 93 for four wickets overnight.

Makoni was the top scorer in the Tuskers first innings with 34, while Gubbins scored 25 and the captain, Taffy Mupariwa, 26.

Their destroyer was Tendai Chatara, who took five wickets for 41 runs.

Ben Compton scored 42 in Mountaineers’ reply on Monday, being out just before the close.

On the second day, Mountaineers went on to take a first-innings lead of 59, thanks mainly to a good innings of 63 from Joylord Gumbie, batting at number six.

He shared a fighting partnership of 63 for the fifth wicket with his overnight partner, Tony Munyonga, who made 30.

After Munyonga was out, Gumbie’s partners came and went quickly, but Chatara scored 14 and the final total was 184. Ernest Masuku starred with the ball, taking five wickets for 52 runs off his 19 overs.

In their second innings, Tuskers soon lost Nkosana Mpofu for one, with Chatara again taking the early wicket, but then Makoni and Gubbins again thwarted the bowlers.

They soon cleared off the arrears and continued to build the score, with Gubbins the more aggressive while Makoni played a sound supporting role.

They put on 192 for the second wicket, more runs than either team had made in their entire first innings, until Makoni was bowled for 67 (166 balls, 10 fours) by Timycen Maruma, taking a rare turn at the bowling crease these days.

Gubbins had by now passed his century and by the close was unbeaten with 135 and looking good for more. His overnight partner is Milton Shumba, who has 13.

Tuskers are well placed now, 164 runs ahead with eight wickets still in hand. – ZC