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Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
TUSKERS rounded up their disappointing domestic season with a 26-run defeat at the hands of Southerns Rocks in their final 2024/25 Logan Cup cricket encounter at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.
The defeat meant that Tuskers finished the four-day competition at the bottom of the standings with 82 points, while Rocks moved to 105 and in fourth place. This follows their fourth place finish in the Pro50 Championship, whose final is set to be played this coming Sunday.
Fielding first, Tuskers bowled out Rocks for 204 runs before going on to respond with 266 runs to take a 62-run lead. Rocks went on to score 312 runs in the second innings to set up the hosts a target of 251 runs for victory. Tuskers fell short, succumbing to 224 all out in 66 overs.
Speaking after their defeat against Rocks, Tuskers head coach Walter Chawaguta said he believes that they should have won that match, but failure to apply themselves fully cost them as they were in a good position on day one.
Chawaguta said the defeat was disappointing.
“Very disappointing, I would have thought, especially the way we bowled on that first day having bowled them out for 204. We thought we were in a good position, a good driving position. But unfortunately, things didn’t go our way on the second day; we didn’t apply ourselves; we ended up with a 60-run lead, which we thought, be-cause the wicket was starting to turn a little bit, we would take full advantage of.
“But unfortunately, again, we got rid of the top five batters, and there was a bit of a partnership, which sort of gave them a solid lead at the end with (Newman) Nyamhuri coming in and batting and getting that 90-odd.
“That obviously left them in a good position. But again, it was still a good wicket. There was really no excuse for us to not chase down 250. So, it’s very disappointing. And yeah, without a doubt, we discussed it even at the end. Everyone’s disappointed by that because with our batting line-up, I believe that we should have chased down 250,” said Chawaguta.
He added that it was a tough season where they also lost some games they should have won.
“So we can only learn from this, and we spoke about taking responsibility; we spoke about the options that the players need to take, especially in spinning conditions. It’s very disappointing. It’s a game; I do believe that we should have won. Obviously, it has been a tough season for us because a lot of our games where we were in a pole position were rained off, and the few that we played, obviously, we didn’t have a positive result with the exception of one against Mountaineers.
“We march on; hopefully we grow and be better in the way we do things,” said Chawaguta.
Roy Kaia produced a stellar bowling performance for Rocks, claiming 11 wickets in the match.
The fourth day saw Nyamhuri resume his innings on 90 not out, hoping to reach his maiden first-class century. However, he managed just two more runs before the last man. Tinaye Muzonde was stumped off Ainsley Ndlovu’s bowling, leaving him stranded on 92 not out off 163 balls, which included nine fours and a six.
Tuskers’ chase began on shaky ground as Nkosana Mpofu fell early, caught off Kaia for just two. However, Tanunurwa Makoni (58) and Tafara Mupariwa (51) revived their hopes with a crucial second-wicket stand of 103.
Just as Tuskers appeared to take control, Kaia struck twice in quick succession to remove both set batters, tilting the momentum in Rocks’ favour.
At 131/5, Kaia had already accounted for all five wickets.
Will Fraine and Dalubuhle Mboyi staged a fightback, putting on 63 for the sixth wicket, but Kaia once again broke the partnership, dismissing Mboyi for 27.
Fraine followed soon after for 31, and, despite a brief resistance from Ndlovu (16), Tuskers faltered.
Nyamhuri had the final say, trapping Arnold Shara in front to wrap up the innings for 224, handing Rocks their first victory of the season.
Kaia’s outstanding spell of six for 54 took his match tally to 11 for 106, capping off a dominant performance.
Mountaineers successfully defended their Logan Cup title with a commanding 358-run victory over Eagles at Mutare Sports Club, with young leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa emerging as the hero of the day after claiming a five-wicket haul.
Online Reporter