Batsman dominate on Day 1 of Logan Cup

Batsman dominate on Day 1 of Logan Cup

• South Africa to join India in Zimbabwe series

• Streak: Western cricket nations must change attitude over Zim

• Canada cancels Zimbabwe tour over health concerns

• Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka postpone tour

• New Zealand delay Zimbabwe tour by a year

• Taibu 'has difficulties working with other players' - ZC

• Vermeulen makes shock return to cricket

• Coltart plea as NZ Prime Minister threatens to call off tour

• Bvute: In the fullness of time, we'll be vindicated

• Sibanda has no takers in IPL auction

• Zimbabwe complete ODI series whitewash over Kenya

• Rampant Zimbabwe pile up record ODI total

• Zimbabwe beat Kenya by 109 runs in first ODI

• Bangladesh wins series over Zimbabwe

Posted to the web: 01/04/2009 09:32:51
Easterns – 229 for 9:

(F. Mutizwa 60, H. Masakadza 37, B. Mlambo 34, D. Hondo 8*, N. Mushangwe 2*; T. Kamungozi 3/58, E. Rainsford 2/22, B. Mugochi 2/38)

Day 1 of 4-day match

THE second round of the 2008/2009 Logan Cup tournament got under way in Harare on Tuesday, with Easterns playing Centrals at Old Hararians Sports Club and Northerns-Westerns at the Alexandra Sports Club.

At Old Hararians (OH), Easterns won the toss and opted to bat.

After posting 541 in their first and, as it turned out, only innings in their first round match against Westerns whom they beat by an innings and 275 runs at the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy ground on Wednesday, Easterns were expected to remain in the runs moreso against a Centrals side that was beaten within three days by Northerns on Wednesday.

When Johnson Marumisa was dropped by Alois Tichana on four, it looked as if it would be business as usual for the Steven Mangongo-coached outfit. But the opener was bowled by Zimbabwe pacer Edward Rainsford before he could use his life, to make it 11 for one in five overs.

His fellow opener, Bernard Mlambo, was joined by number three Hamilton Masakadza and together they built the second best partnership for Easterns on the day – 47 runs – before Mlambo was caught by Eric Chauluka off the bowling of Tafadzwa Kamungozi. He went for 34 runs.

Masakadza himself made 37, the second highest for Easterns after the 60 posted by in-form batsman Forster Mutizwa.

The Zimbabwe wicket-keeper seems to be celebrating his international debut against Kenya in January with big hits since then. His tally on Tuesday came from 139 minutes of occupation and was crafted off 99 balls which included eight fours and one six. Mutizwa’s half century was off 85 balls, seven of them fours and one six, in 89 minutes.

He also featured in a 51-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Stephen Nyamuzinga (24).

Douglas Hondo (8) and Natsai Mushangwe (2) were at the crease when bad light put paid to play after 82 overs.

For Centrals, Zimbabwe A spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi took three wickets for 58 runs in 27 overs, 11 of them maiden. Rainsford grabbed two for 22 in nine and Brighton Mugochi two for 38 in 17 overs with seven maidens.

At Alexandra, Westerns were still to make a mark in 2.4 overs in response to 300 all out set by Northerns in the first day of their Logan Cup match, when bad light and rain ended play 28 minutes of the innings to go.

Two half centuries by in-form Graeme Cremer and skipper Elton Chigumbura saw Northerns hit 300 runs in 78.2 overs of some good cricket on a good batting wicket. Cremer, in particular was in valiant mood hitting 10 boundaries in his 96-ball 74. His partnership with number 11 batsman Admire Manyumwa (20 not out) of 62 was the best of the innings.

Westerns senior bowlers Tawanda Mupariwa, Christopher Mpofu and Keith Dabengwa who all took two wickets each were as arrogant as bowlers can come in their dismissals. Mupariwa took the wickets of Ishmael Senzere (11) and Dean Mazhawidza (4) while Mpofu accounted for Cephas Zhuwawo (22) and Tatenda Taibu (43).

Regis Chakabva (15) and Chigumbura (53) were victims of Dabengwa’s unorthodox spin as Westerns ensured they bowled their opponents out in day one of the four day contest.

With Taibu slowly returning to form, Northerns looked much better after falling to 98 for 4 in 25 overs, a score that looked precarious but the arrival of the former national team captain and Chigumbura restored some respectability forcing the score board to tick before both fell. Cremer then took over the burden.

As Westerns tightened their hold on proceeding by taking wickets at intervals, the match slowly ebbed to the twilight with some delightful knocks from the swashbuckling Cremer who punished bowlers no end, while occasionally clearing the ropes with nonchalant ease. He stayed on the crease for 111 minutes.

Also notable was Taibu’s 43 that came off just 44 balls in 33 minutes with Chigumbura’s half century coming off 77 balls in 106 minutes of toil as bowlers pressured him to hitting some poor shots which he eventually did trying to sweep Dabengwa before Mark Vermeulen caught him at second slip.

Westerns resume batting on Wednesday morning hoping to chase down the score and hopefully post a considerable advantage. Openers Freedom Takarusenga and Tafadzwa Ngulube faced 10 balls without troubling the scorers.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
sports@newzimbabwe.com