Centrals poised for first Logan Cup win

Centrals poised for first Logan Cup win

• Online: Zimbabwe Cricket

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Posted to the web: 08/04/2009 11:36:16
Westerns – 145 and 46 for 4:

(T. Madiri 18*, C. Mpofu 7*; E. Rainsford 3/11, B. Mugochi 1/10)

Centrals – 325 all out:

(M. Waller 81, E. Rainsford 51, T. Kamungozi 44; T. Mupariwa 4/84, J. Nyumbu 2/35, N. Ncube 2/47, C. Mpofu 2/85)

Day 2 of 4-day match.

CENTRALS put themselves in good stead for their first win of the 2008/2009 Logan Cup tournament when they ended their first innings with a lead of 180 runs over Westerns and then had them 46 for four at stumps in their second innings Tuesday.

After resuming their first innings on 105 for four at the Harare Sports Club yesterday morning, Centrals went on to post 325 runs before they were dismissed by Westerns in 101.5 overs.

The platform for that total was the partnership for the fifth wicket between Malcolm Waller and Edward Rainsford, which was good for a solid 87 runs in 156 minutes.

Waller was given a life by Romeo Kasawaya before he could add to his overnight 28 and went on to make the amnesty count. The son of former Zimbabwe international, Andy, was the top scorer for Centrals with 81 runs off 180 balls. He hit eight fours, five of them on his way to his half century which came off 139 balls.

Rainsford, displaying an aplomb not normally associated with those chosen for the onerous task of nightwatchman, built on his overnight three runs to a 50 off 110 balls, four of them fours and then fell on 51 when he was caught by Freedom Takarusenga off the bowling of Njabulo Ncube in the 71st over.

Waller was the next wicket to fall when John Nyumbu had him caught by Tawanda Mupariwa with the third ball of the 82nd over.

Then, Centrals were 226 for six, and leading by 81 runs. That lead would get even more comfortable, thanks to an 81-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Tendai Chisoro (39) and Tafadzwa Kamungozi (44).

The latter had survived a dismissal when he was dropped by Nyumbu while on 34.

Zimbabwe pacer Tawanda Mupariwa finished with four wickets for 84 runs in 27.5 overs, six of them maiden. Nyumbu had two for 35 in 12, Ncube also two wickets but for 47 runs and in 16 overs with five maidens and Christopher Mpofu two for 85 runs in 26 overs.

Rainsford then exchanged bat for ball with similar effect, as he cut through the Westerns top order. He had opener Freedom Takarusenga, the hero of the Westerns first innings with a career-best 65 on Monday, caught by R. Chinyengetere without troubling the scorers for the seven balls he faced and then dismissed Kasawaya for nine when he was caught by Richmond Mutumbami before trapping Charles Coventry (4) leg before wicket.

Rainsford also had a hand, in both senses of the phrase, in the fourth wicket that fell during the Westerns innings. It was his catch off Brighton Mugochi that sent Mbekezeli Mabuza walking.

Westerns have it all to do this morning, when Taurai Madiri (18) and Christopher Mpofu (1) resume their second innings with four wickets gone and 46 runs on the board – a deficit of 134.

At the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy grounds, Easterns resumed on 45 for two and were dismissed for 146 in 54.5 overs by Northerns.

Forster Mutizwa, batting at number nine, top-scored with 52 runs off 68 balls in 102 minutes. He hit two fours and three sixes. He was supported by nightwatchman Prosper Utseya with 27 runs and Stuart Matsikenyeri with 26 off 38 balls.

For Northerns, Admire Manyumwa took five wickets for 19 runs in 14.4 overs and Chigumbura took three for 34 runs in 18 overs.

In their second innings, Northerns were 150 for five in 35 overs at stumps. Cephas Zhuwao contributed 51 runs off 77 balls before he was bowled by Shingirai Masakadza, who finished with three wickets for 59 runs. Prosper Utseya claimed two wickets for 50 runs.

Elton Chigumbura, 38 runs off 46 balls, and Raymond Price, eight off 27, were at the crease at the end of the second day’s play.
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