MATABELELAND Tuskers successfully completed a hat-trick by winning the cricket Logan Cup for the third time in a row with one more round of matches left to be played.
REPORT BY VITALIS MOYO
Tuskers secured the title after they scrapped for a tie through a defiant century by Bilal Shafayat, holding Mountaineers to a draw at Mutare Sports Club on Saturday.
Trailing by 134 runs at the start of the fourth day, Tuskers faced a tough task of saving the match with seven wickets in hand.
They lost overnight batsman off the fifth over of the morning, but Shafayat and Sean Williams forged a 143-run partnership that helped the Tuskers clear the deficit.
Shafayat carried on after the fall of William’s wicket and completed his second century in as many matches.
Mountaineers had chosen to bat and declared their innings after scoring 475 on the second day at a healthy rate of 3,50.
Greg Lamb and Timcyen Maruma scored centuries, while Kevin Kasuza and Kudzai Sauramba chipped in with half-centuries.
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It was Shafayat who held together Tuskers in the first innings with a half-century too, but Mountaineers bowlers struck regularly and reduced Tuskers to 223 for 9.
Some late resistance by No 11 Jason Nyumbu, who scored 65, helped Tuskers to get close to 300.
Shingi Masakadza and Maruma shared four wickets each.
Tuskers maintained their unbeaten record in the competition and are placed at the top with 38 points, nine ahead of Mountaineers.
Top order batsman Sean Williams has played a huge role in Tusker’s superb performance this season.
His last 10 innings have produced 83, 30, 87, 69, 44, 0, 47, 48, 28 and 118 runs at a staggering average of 61,5.
Meanwhile, in tomorrow’s fixtures, Mountaineers will be playing away to Eagles at Harare Sports Club while MidWest Rhinos host Southern Rocks at Kwekwe Sports Club.
Next week, Tuskers will have an away trip to Masvingo Sports Club to conclude this year’s edition of the Logan Cup fixtures.
