Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo,Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER both captains agreed to forfeit an innings each in a bid to get a result, bad weather still emerged as the ultimate winner in the Logan Cup match between Tuskers and Mega Market Mountaineers at Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
Tuskers forfeited their second innings while the defending champions forfeited their first, setting up a potentially explosive conclusion to the match. However, rain and bad light ruined the day’s play, effectively resulting in a draw.
It was a disheartening outcome for the two sides chasing their first victories of the season. Tuskers lost their season opener against Southern Rocks last week while Mountaineers were on a bye in the opening week.
Batting first, Tuskers were bowled out for 321 courtesy of four half centuries from the skipper Tafara Mupariwa, Brian Chari, Aliakbar Hamid and Clive Madande. They batted until the morning of the final day, as most days were abruptly cut short due to prolonging bad weather.
Mountaineers were on 61/2, chasing a target of 322 runs when play was stopped.
Day four resumed with Tuskers on 256/4 with Hamid (50*) and Madande (46*) in the middle.
On the previous day, only 2.2 overs of cricket were played with the hosts only adding eight runs to their overnight score of 248 with bad light disrupting play.
After an early start on the final day, Madande fell in the 93rd over, caught for 66 runs off 88 balls and in the following over, Tawanda Maposa also fell, for a two-ball duck as the hosts lost two wickets for a single run.
Tinotenda Maposa fell for 14 runs off 22 balls and Hamid was the eighth wicket to fall, caught for 70 runs off 158 deliveries. Tanatswa Bechani and Ainsley Ndlovu were the last wickets to fall for the Bulawayo based side.
Earlier in their innings, Mupariwa had played a captain’s knock, falling for 81 runs off 169 balls, his 12th First Class half century. Chari, who was run out for 51 runs, celebrated his 28th First-Class half century.
Wellington Masakadza was the pick of the Mountaineers batters, finishing with figures of 4/46 in 13.4 overs while veteran Tendai Chatara and Vincent Masekesa picked up two wickets apiece. Victor Nyauchi claimed one scalp.
Tuskers had a bright start with the ball as Tinotenda Maposa struck in the second over, trapping Alistair Frost in front for a five-ball duck.
In the following over, Ernest Masuku gave Tuskers another breakthrough, bowling Nick Welch for one run off five deliveries.
There was then a 53-runs third wicket partnership between Brian Bennett and Matthew Welch. At the time play was stopped, and eventually called off, Bennett was on 29 runs off 19 deliveries while Matthew Welch was on 23 runs from 29 balls.
Mountaineers only batted 12 overs.
With rain spoiling the party in the four-day game, the two sides will meet in the corresponding Pro50 Championship encounter at the same venue on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the match between Southern Rocks and Rhinos also ended as a draw at Kwekwe Sports Club due to persistent rain. The two teams will also face off in the Pro50 at the same venue on Tuesday.
