Phil Mustard began his first-class cricket stint with Mountaineers with a century to help set up an innings win against Southern Rocks in Mutare.
Mustard — the Durham wicketkeeper who has played limited-overs matches for England — hit a 115-ball 105 to help his side to a healthy 467 along with his captain Timycen Maruma who made 149, enough to ensure they batted just once.
When Rocks were bowled out for 207 on the penultimate day, they were 114 short of making the opposition bat again.
Rocks collapsed to 146 on the first day to the Mountaineers seamers, led by Tendai Chatara’s 3 for 50. No 11 Taurai Muzarabani’s 24 was the top score of the innings.
Mustard and Tino Mawoyo all but matched Rocks’ first-innings effort, adding 142 upfront. Mawoyo made 53 before he was run-out.
Maruma ensured that his side never let go of the initiative. He added 199 with Prosper Utseya, who made 94.
Faced with a huge deficit, Rocks only did marginally better than their first-innings effort. Roy Kaia managed 69, but he was the only batsman in his side to muster a fifty. Natsai Mushangwe was the most effective bowler, taking 3 for 65.
