Online Reporter
Sports Reporters
MUTARE cricket franchise, the Mega Market Mountaineers, failed to live up to expectations in the recently concluded Logan Cup competition, losing five matches, drawing twice, and winning only once in the entire campaign.
Coming into the competition as defending champions, much was expected of the Mountain Goats, but ultimately, little was achieved, with one of their most defeats being a sensational debut performance by pace bowler, Zaman Khwaja, which headlined Rhinos’ emphatic 206-run victory over Mountaineers in their Logan Cup encounter at Takashinga Cricket Club.
The match was wrapped up inside three days.
Set a target of 285, Mountaineers’ second innings never recovered from a catastrophic start.
However, as the Mega Market Mountaineers felt the pain of losing a competition they had often dominated, Southern Rocks were crowned 2025/26 Logan Cup champions after asserting their dominance over nearest rivals, Eagles in a decisive drawn encounter at Harare Sports Club last Thursday.
The championship was effectively sealed by a superb century from wicketkeeper-batter, Tafadzwa Tsiga, whose innings underpinned Rocks’ control of the contest and extinguished Eagles’ lingering hopes.
Rocks completed the season unbeaten, recording four wins from eight matches to finish on 110 points.
Eagles, who also secured four victories, but suffered one defeat, ended on 103 points.
The title triumph marks Rocks’ second Logan Cup success, following their maiden win in the 2020/21 season.
Resuming on 471 for five, already 76 runs ahead, Rocks tightened their grip through Tsiga and Ali Asfand. Tsiga, who began the day on 48, went on to produce a composed and authoritative innings, becoming the third centurion of the innings.
In the process, Rocks achieved a remarkable milestone, with six consecutive batters registering scores of 50 or more – a first in Zimbabwean first-class cricket.
Asfand contributed 14, while Newman Nyamhuri added 17, as Tsiga brought up his fifth first-class century.
Captain, Roy Kaia, declared the innings on 564 for eight, giving Rocks a formidable lead of 202 runs.
Tsiga’s knock, compiled over four hours from 151 deliveries, included two sixes and nine boundaries, and effectively put the result beyond Eagles’ reach.
With victory no longer a realistic prospect, Eagles were left to bat for pride and survival.
Openers, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and Rodney Mupfudza each scored 27, though in contrasting styles – Kamunhukamwe striking briskly off 30 balls before edging behind, while Mupfudza occupied the crease patiently over 71 deliveries.
Dion Myers offered resistance with a measured 55 off 124 balls, while Craig Ervine added an unbeaten 19 in a watchful innings, showing little urgency as the draw became inevitable.
The match was eventually called off by mutual agreement at 4.10pm, with Eagles on 133 for two, still trailing by 69 runs on aggregate – confirmation of Rocks’ supremacy and their deserved Logan Cup triumph.
