Match Thread Mountaineers v Rocks (Logan Cup)

Train Driver wrote:No Steve Tikolo in the Rocks side

Mountaineers win against Rocks

Review of Round 2 of the 2009/2010 Logan Cup - Mountaineers vs. Southern

Rocks

The second round of the 2009/2010 Logan Cup started off Tuesday this week on

a temperate note, with a balanced mixture of outstanding performances and

disappointments, all the elements that give the traditional four day game

its distinctive edge.

Mountaineers' captain Hamilton Masakadza won the toss on the very flat

Mutare Sports Club wicket and elected to field.

The visiting Southern Rocks had a bold start of their first innings thanks

to a second wicket partnership of 105 runs between captain Chamunorwa

Chibhabha and Erick Chauluka. The Rocks innings took a slight depression as

batmen in the lower order lost easy wickets due to the spin bowling

combination of national team captain Prosper Utseya, and Tymcen Maruma who

collectively took 7 wickets between the two of them. After five hours and

sixteen minutes of play the Rocks were bowled out for a very disappointing

250 which could have been lower if not for the 28 extras Mountaineers

considered. Erick Chauluka fell short of his 50 and scored a handy 43 off

133 balls, Chamunorwa Chibhabha was bowled out for a hard hit 60 off just 82

balls and Robertson Chinyengetere scored 59 from 110 balls before being

trapped leg before wicket by sneaky bowling Tymcen Maruma. Maruma had a

grand day getting five wickets for 37 runs complimented by national team

captain Prosper Utseya and Jabulo Ncube got two wickets a piece.

Mountaineers then negotiated the remaining thirteen overs as they closed on

35 without loss.

Overnight drizzle delayed proceedings by an hour and when play got underway

at 11am it was the Rocks who drew first blood when Bernard Mlambo was

brilliantly caught at backward point by Hilary Matanga off the bowling of

Tendai Chisoro without adding to his overnight score of 13. Mountaineers

then found themselves in even deeper trouble after lunch as they slumped to

81 for four. A fifth wicket stand of 110 between Stuart Matsikanyeri and

Prosper Utseya seemingly put the home side back on track before Matsikanyeri

presented Matanga with the simplest of catches for a polished 73.

Wickets then started to fall at regular intervals and despite Utseya's

gritty 54; the home side could only manage a lead of 37 over the rocks as

they were bowled out for 287. It was team effort by the Rocks bowlers with

Tendai Chisoro being the pick of the bunch with figures of 2 for 33 off 11

overs. The Rocks' second innings could not have got to a worse start and at

lunch of day three they found themselves floundering at 51 for seven thanks

to their first innings tormentor Tymcen Maruma who produced a devastating

spell of five wickets for 37 runs off ten overs. A day three finish seemed

almost certain as the Rocks then found themselves in further trouble at 109

for nine. Alistair Maregwede then found an unlikely partner in Matanga who

frustrated the Mountaineers as the two of them added 110 for the tenth

wicket before Matanga was finally out for a heroic 33 which then left

Maregwede unbeaten on a hard fought 82 off 190 deliveries.

Tymcen Maruma followed up his first innings success by taking five for 62

off 18 overs giving him match figures of 10 for 99 which meant that the

Mountaineers were set 175 to win. Openers Tinotenda Mawoyo and Tatenda Taibu

laid the platform with an opening stand of 107 before Taibu was well caught

by wicket-keeper Maregwede off the bowling of Matanga for 49. Even though

Matanga trapped then promoted Natsai Mushangwe for eight, Tinotenda Mawoyo

was in an uncompromising mood as the previously out of form opener guided

the Mountaineers to a comfortable eight wicket win.