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Mat Tuskers crush Mash Eagles

Sport
Sean Ervine cracked 153 not-out and Moeen Ali added 101, as Matabeleland crushed Mashonaland Eagles by 312 runs at Queens Sports Club

BULAWAYO — Sean Ervine cracked 153 not-out and Moeen Ali added 101, as Matabeleland crushed Mashonaland Eagles by 312 runs at Queens Sports Club in a Logan Cup cricket match that ended Friday.

Report By Sports Reporter/Cricinfo

Tuskers had been bowled out for 143 in the first innings following a devastating 7/35 from Kyle Jarvis in juts 45,4 overs. In response, Eagles were all out for 245 in 79,1 overs with Nathan Waller managing a half century.

But Tuskers turned on the power in the second innings, declaring on 518/8 after 104,2 overs after Ervine’s 153, achieved from 140 balls-14 boundaries and five sixes. Ali’s almost a-ball-a run brought him up to 101 while opener Terry Duffin was four short of a century.

Charles Coventry added 76 (11 boundaries and three sixes). Eagles were then reduced to 88/8 on the third day and they crushed out for 104 all out after 31.5 overs, giving Tuskers six points in the championship race.

In Mutare, Brendan Taylor scored an aggressive ton in MidWest Rhinos’ second innings and Ed Rainsford picked up 10 wickets in the match, but a lack of support from the other batsmen meant the contributions went in vain as Mountaineers completed a comfortable eightwicket win at Mutare Sports Club.

Rhinos, who were 148 runs behind Mountaineers after the first innings, were put into early trouble in the second innings as Calum Price struck in his first, third and fourth overs to remove Rhinos’ top three batsmen with 48 runs on the board.

Another two wickets went down soon to put the Rhinos in danger of losing the match by an innings, but Taylor combined with Simon Mugava, who scored 28, in a 99-run sixth-wicket stand to briefly resurrect hopes of a turnaround.

However, wickets started tumbling soon after Donald Tiripano broke the stand and Rhinos finished on 247, setting up an easy target of 100 for Mountaineers.

Hamilton Masakadza and Mark Pettini then took Mountaineers home with an unbeaten half-century partnership after Ed Rainsford had removed both openers early.

In the end, it was Rhinos’ first innings below-par total that was the difference between the two teams. Rhinos had chosen to bat first, but lost six wickets for less than 50.