WILLIAMS RESCUES TUSKERS

Matabeleland Tuskers all rounder, Sean Williams top scored with 69 runs on Tuesday at Harare Sports Club in a Logan Cup match against title contenders Mashonaland Eagles. Tuskers were eventually bowled out for 268 on day one while at the close play Eagles were on 17runs for two wickets.

Eagles won the toss and sent the visitors in to bad and disaster struck as early as the seventh over as opener Brian Chari fell victim to after mistiming a Nathan Waller ball to depart on leg before wicket. Moments later, Prosper Utseya trapped the duo of Terrence Duffin and Keith Dabengwa for leg before wicket leaving the visitors in all sort of troubles on 34 for three. Tuskers new signing, Bilal Shafayat provided some resistance by well crafted 51 eventually falling victim to a well bowled Tino Mutombodzi delivery.

Glen Querl was the most unlucky of the Tuskers batsman after falling short on a half century by one run. Experience proved to be the most priced element when Pay Price simply beat Querl with some exuberant ball turning exploits in the 82^nd over. Kegaan Meth contributed a handy 30 runs on the board before Price struck again deceiving the Tuskers skipper with a well bowled off cutter that trapped him leg before wicket.

No other Tuskers batsman passed the 20 run mark as Price picked the most wickets for the hosts, retaining figures of 4 for 62 in 19.2 overs. Utseya and Mutombodzi picked up two wickets each while Waller and innocent Chinyoka claimed a wicket each.

At the close of play the eagles had lost two wickets in the form of one Twenty 20 specialist Cephas Zhuwawo (14) and new boy Keith Kondo who failed to get off the mark. Zhuwawo faced 11 balls, cleared a huge 6 and a four before attempting to slog a fairly good ball from Meth and was caught by Querl. Kondo on the other hand faced just two deliveries before completely mistiming a Querl delivery only to have his middle stump uprooted.

In Kwekwe, it was Day one between Midwest Rhinos and Mountaineers at Kwekwe Sports Club. Half centuries from Tino Mawoyo 58, Tymcen Maruma 51 and Kudzai Sauramba 55  made sure the visiting Mountaineers set a comfortable first innings total of 252 runs. Rhinos Spinner Graeme Cremer claimed three wickets for 84 in a massive 26 overs while Edward Rainsford, Mluleki Nkala, Mike Chinouya and Malcolm Waller took a wicket each.

Play resumes at 10 am …