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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
EAGLES are eyeing to complete a big win over Tuskers today after their bowlers gave the defending champions a torrid time on Day Two of their Logan Cup match at Old Hararians.
Tuskers were left facing all sorts of problems after they were bowled out for a sub-100 total yesterday, in response to Eagles 296 runs.
Eagles’ bowlers led by Faraz Akram were unplayable as they dismissed the Bulawayo side for 98 runs in their first innings.
Tuskers were forced to play follow-on innings and they had lost five wickets for 97 runs at stumps.
By close of play yesterday Tuskers were trailing Eagles by 101 runs and facing their first defeat of the season.
Their poor batting performance virtually undid all the good work by the bowlers on the first day, where Eagles had to be rescued by their tail following a 126 runs partnership between Faraz Akram and Tanaka Chivanga for the ninth wicket.
It was remarkable fightback, especially coming from the bowlers as Chivanga scored a career best 69 in first-class cricket while Akram scored his fourth Logan Cup half ton with his 72 runs.
After they were put in to bat first, Eagles made a steady start after Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (39) and Kudzai Maunze (36) opened their innings with a partnership of 76 in 18 overs.
However, both were out in successive overs, leaving the job to Chamu Chibhabha and Nick Welch.
They put on 43 together before Welch was caught for 24 runs, off the spin of debutant Tanatswa Bechani, who then had Wessly Madhevere also caught first ball.
At this point the middle order slumped badly, mainly to the bowling of Bechani, although Chibhabha was bowled by Charlton Tshuma for 27.
Eagles were in trouble when their eighth wicket went down at 155, but at this point Chivanga came in to join Akram at the crease.
Chivanga went into this match with a first-class career batting average of six and a highest score of 26 not out.
The bright spot for Tuskers was spin bowler Bechani who made a dream first-class cricket debut with a five-wicket haul on the first day.
The 25-year-old was in devastating form with bowling figures of 5-91 as the Bulawayo side held back their hosts for the most part of the game with some brilliant efforts in the field.
There were also two wickets each for Luke Jongwe and Sheunopa Musakwa before Eagles fought back late on from 155/8 to end their innings at 296 runs, thanks to Akram and Chivanga’s resistance.
Tuskers will resume play today with Clive Madande (14) and Luke Jongwe (8).
In the other match at Harare Sports Club, Mega Market Mountaineers, took a commanding position when they opened a 171 runs lead against Southern Rocks in the second innings.
Mountaineers had suffered a 14-runs deficit in the first innings when Rocks responded to their total of 176 with 190 runs of their own.
But Ben Compton (92*) and Jaylord Gumbie (90*) made a solid start to the second innings when they featured in an unbeaten opening wicket partnership of 185 runs at stumps.
All the players and match officials in Logan Cup action observed a moment of silence at the start of day one and are wearing black armbands as a mark of respect to the late cricket coach Shepherd Makunura.
At the time of his passing last Thursday, Makunura was doubling up as fielding coach with the Zimbabwe senior team and head coach at Southern Rocks. He was laid to rest at Warren Hills in Harare on Saturday.
The Logan Cup matches enter day three today.
Summary scorecards:
Eagles: 296 all out in 77.5 overs (Faraz Akram 70*, Tanaka Chivanga 69, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 39; Tanatswa Bechani 5-91, Luke Jongwe 2-47, Sheunopa Musekwa 2-56)
Tuskers: 98 (Nkosana Mpofu 25, Taffy Mpariwa 23; Faraz Akram 3-32) & (f/o) 97/5 (Milton Shumba 24, Tanunurwa Makoni 18, Clive Madande 14*)
Day 2 – Stumps: Tuskers trail by an innings and 101 runs with five wickets in hand.
Mega Market Mountaineers: 176 all out in 50.3 overs (Shingi Masakadza 55*, Ben Compton 45, Victor Nyauchi 34; Takudzwa Chataira 4-78, Travor Mutsamba 2-15, Priviledge Chesa 2-19) & 185/0 (Jaylord Gumbie 90*, Ben Compton 92*)
Southern Rocks: 190 all out in 63.2 overs (Innocent Kaia 42, Brian Mudzinganyama 24*, Cephas Zhuwao 2; Donald Tiripano 1/10, Victor Nyauchi 1/20)
Day 2 – Stumps: Mountaineers lead by 171 runs
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