adminLovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
MATABELELAND Tuskers will travel to Harare for the beginning of their fifth Logan Cup tie of the season on Sunday hoping to put their title hopes on track.They lead the standings by a solitary point over Mountaineers who are on 16.
The leaders have 17 points and of late have not been the efficient side that a few weeks ago threatened to run away with the title.
Tuskers last week lost by six wickets to MidWest Rhinos.
Rhinos appeared on the way for an innings win after reducing Tuskers to 103 for six follow on but a century from Luke Jongwe and 50s from lower order batsmen Shoun Handirisi and John Nyumbu eventually helped Tuskers wipe out a 196-run deficit and set Rhinos a target of 151 to win.
Rhinos’ foundation for victory courtesy of centuries by Vusi Sibanda (115) and Malcolm Waller (141) had them posting a first-innings total of 415.
The pair added 225 runs in the the fourth wicket to lift the team from a tricky 62 for 3.
Tendai Chisoro and Michael Chinouya who came in the lower order then pushed the score over 400.
Jongwe with 5 for 71 was the star of the Tuskers bowlers.
Tuskers managed 219 in their first-innings.
Chinouya and Bradley Wadlan were the leading wicket-takers for Rhinos with three wickets apiece.
The win was MidWest Rhinos’ second win of the tournament.
Their six-wicket victory showed that they have the potential to go all the way and grab the title in the longest version of the local game.
Local stars John Nyumbu, Chris Mpofu and captain Godwill Mamhiyo will be expected to come to the party and rescue Tuskers’ fourth title bid.
Mashonaland will be coming from a 76-run loss at the hands of Mountaineers last week. Still licking their wounds they are expected to give the visitors a torrid time with both bat and ball.
Fixtures
Mashonaland Eagles v Tuskers at Harare
Feb 8-11, 2015 (10:00 local | 08:00 GMT)
Mountaineers v Rhinos at Mutare
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