Day 1: 27 November 2012, at Kwekwe Sports Club
Close of play: Southern Rocks (164) v Mountaineers (27/2)
Mountaineers won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat, in their Logan Cup match at the Masvingo Sports Club.
Soutehrn Rocks were dismissed for a paltry 164 on a fairly flat wicket. Rocks’ technical team had one change from the team that lost to Matabeleland Tuskers last week in Bulawayo with the inclusion of medium pacer Tawanda Mupariwa, while the visitors kept the same line up that did battle with Mid-West Rhinos at Mutare Sports Club.
Rocks started off badly with Kudzai Maunze departing 13 balls in to the match after failing to deal with a tricky Donald Tiripano in-swinger, leaving the score on seven for one. His fellow opener, English import Benjamin Slater, did not impress either as he headed for the pavilion after falling victim to a Shingirai Masakadza ball in the 13th over.
Trevor Garwe top-scored with 41 runs as he showed great composure and was steadfast in shot selection. Garwe faced a total 113 deliveries, smashing five fours. In the second session after lunch, he had a cameo with former national team bowler Tinashe Panyangara who made 32 runs.
The partnership was to be the day’s highlight for the hosts as it produced 58 runs in 15 overs. Richmond Mutumbami was the highest run scorer as he made 32 runs and no other batsman managed to pass the 15-run mark.
For the visitors Shingi masakadza was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed four wickets for 43 runs, in 17.3 overs while Tiripano took 3 wickets for 63 runs after 23 overs. Spin maestro Natsai Mushangwe and tendai Chatara took a wicket each.
At the close of play mountaineers had lost two wickets with Tino Mawoyo mistiming a Mupariwa slow ball departing after contributing just 3 runs on the board. Spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi deceived in form batsman Hamilton Masakadza to claim the second wicket, leaving Mountaineers on 23 for two. Opener Dan Hodgson was joined Mark Pettini and they contributed four runs to end the day on 27 for 2. Play resumes at 10 am
