Tuskers left with mountain to climb in Logan Cup opener

15 Dec, 2019 - 00:12 0 Views
Tuskers left with mountain to climb in Logan Cup opener Christopher Mpofu

The Sunday News

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter 

TUSKERS were yesterday left starring defeat in their opening Logan Cup, first class cricket competition fixture against Mountaineers at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare.

It is looking all gloomy for Tuskers, whose effort with the ball on the first day has not been complemented. Heading into the final day today, Mountaineers lead Tuskers by 384 runs and are poised to open their defence of the Logan Cup competition with a sizeable victory, as long as the weather permits them to do so. 

Headed by controlled fifties from Kevin Kasuza (86) and Timycen Maruma (60), Mountaineers spent most of the third day’s play compiling a massive lead. 

At the start of the day Tuskers were 148 for nine wickets in reply to Mountaineers’ first-innings total of 239.

It only took a few minutes for seamer Donald Tiripano to trap Ainsley Ndlovu leg before wicket for six to end the innings for 156 and finish with bowling figures of three wickets for 37 runs.

Christopher Mpofu finished with 23 not out, the second-highest score in a poor team innings after Craig Ervine’s 34. 

The only way for Tuskers to avoid defeat is to get a draw and for that to happen, their batsmen must apply themselves better than they did in the first innings. 

At Harare Sports Club, all is pointing to a win for the Eagles over Rhinos. The Kwekwe-based Rhinos were 113 runs behind with just two wickets in hand in their second innings and it will be a matter of time before they capitulate on the last day in what is likely to be an innings defeat. 

@Mdawini_29

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