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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ALLIANCE Health Eagles opening batsman, Kudzai Maunze, had an outstanding performance with the bat at the weekend, when he became the first player to score a century, in this year’s Logan Cup competition.
Maunze’s career best 183 runs propelled Eagles to a massive innings and 56 runs victory over defending champions Southern Rocks at Takashinga Sports Club.
Before that, the 30-year-old had only one ton under his belt in 82 innings, spread across 12 years.
Maunze was the toast of the Eagles team and helped them to coast to a healthy total of 407 runs, in their first innings.
Rocks had won the toss and were restricted to 203 runs, thanks largely to a fine work by the bowlers, led by Brad Evans’ four-wicket haul.
Tafadzwa Tsiga provided the only bright prospect for the Rocks, with his 67 runs, which came down the batting order.
His opening partner, Innocent Kaia, was the second highest contributor with 21 runs, but he retired from the crease prematurely, with an injury.
Most of the Rocks batsmen failed to build on their starts.
Evans had impressive bowling figures of 4-45 while Tino Mutombodzi had 2-31.
Every Eagles bowler finished with, at least, a wicket.
Maunze then took over the show and batted for three-and-half hours.
His knock was what the doctor ordered as Eagles suffered several setbacks, with wickets falling regularly around him, in the first two days.
All-rounder Evans chipped in with a fine half century, after hitting 66 runs, batting at number eight.
Mutombodzi also chipped in with 34 runs. But, Tanaka Chivanga’s spell of 6-38 was much more lethal as Rocks were bundled out for 148 runs in their second innings. Only two Rocks players – Sikandar Raza (68) and William Mashinge unbeaten on 50 — were able to get double digit scores.
Online Reporter