http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=649
Northerns total 300 & 267 all out in 71.2 overs (E.Chigumbura 94, R.Price 77 T.Taibu 43 C.Mpofu 3/46 T.Mupariwa 3/47 K.Dabengwa 3/78)
Westerns total 158 & 39/6 in 26.4 overs (M.Mabuza 17*, M.Vermeulen 6, R.Price 3/14, G.Cremer 3/13)
WESTERNS were left facing a heavy defeat on the third day of the second round of Logan Cup at Alexandra Sports Club after losing six wickets in their Thursday afternoon session needing 370 runs to win with only four wickets in hand as Northerns spin duo of Ray Price (3/13) and Graeme Cremer (3/14) took three wickets each before stumps.
Northerns who posted 267 after resuming on 12/2 in their second innings increased their advantage after their first innings total of 300 was 142 runs more than Westerns� 158 in the first innings.
But when Westerns quickly removed the openers with just 39 runs on the board and four wickets in the bag, it looked ripe for the taking with their national team bowlers Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa and captain Keith Dabengwa bowling tight.
Despite having Northerns tottering on the brink of collapse at 96 for 7, Westerns toiled for 24.1 overs without any wicket as Northerns gained a valuable 160 runs with Elton Chigumbura (94) imperious with the bat before Dabengwa had him caught by Mark Vermeulen. His shift lasted 174 minutes.
But Price, who has been effective with his spin, clobbered 77 in a knock that included 10 boundaries and three maximums with only Chigumbura having cleared the ropes more than him with 12 boundaries. He faced 124 balls in his stay on the crease lasting 155 minutes.
So outlandish were the duo that Westerns bowlers were frustrated regularly as every bad ball was hit for the ropes while the score board ticked to safety. When Cremer who has been impressive in all games was removed by Dabengwa for a golden duck, Admire Manyumwa (number 11) was left stranded, Northerns had posted 267.
Added to the first innings score of 300, 567 runs always looked a bridge too far for Westerns to reach and they duly struggled to scale the heights.
With that imposing total, Westerns needed 409 runs to win the match after their first innings total of 158 failed to overhaul the 300 Northerns mastered. But it does not look like they will manage unless a miracle of Jesus� proportion happens.
Chasing that score, six Westerns batsmen perished for just 39 runs in 26.4 runs � still needing 370 runs from the tail enders to stop the Kevin Curran coached side from coasting to a win.
At the least the match will go its full four day repertoire, something that did not happen in the first round with Centrals destroyed in three days by Northerns while Easterns were to harsh on Westerns with an innings and 275 runs victory.
But Northerns� hamstring on the match is thanks to excellent bowling with Manyuma, a Zimbabwe A prodigy as impressive as they come. The spin solution of Price and Cremer made the job of Westerns annihilation much easier.
Number three batsman Mbekezeli Mabuza (17 not out) was left stranded on the crease at stumps immediately after the departure of Charles Coventry (0) who could not handle the spin pressure of Price.
http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=650Northerns seals easy victory in Logan Cup second round
Northerns 300 & 267 (E.Chigumbura 94, R.Price 77, T.Taibu 43, C.Mpofu 3/36 K.Dabengwa 3/78 T.Mupariwa 2/47)
Westerns 158 & 140 (K.Dabengwa 34, T.Mupariwa 33 M.Mabuza 28, R.Price 6/69, G.Cremer 4/36)
Northerns beat Westerns by 269 runs
NORTHERNS� easy 269 runs victory over a disappointing Westerns side came at a canter with captain Elton Chigumbura asking just three bowlers to finish off the opponents on the fourth day at Alexandra Sports Club on Friday.
After a late afternoon massacre in which Raymond Price and Graeme Cremer removed six batsmen for just 39 runs before stumps on Thursday, Chigumbura felt no need to employ his other bowlers, content with adding just the in-form Admire Manyumwa to the twin spin menace for variation.
And they duly polished off the remaining four batsmen � Mbekezeli Mabuza (28), Keith Dabengwa (34) Romeo Kasawaya (14) and Tawanda Mupariwa (33) with Price (6/69) clearly the match winner leaking up all resistance just before lunch on Friday to give the side extra time to rest ahead of Monday�s open cast shift against rivals Easterns.
Westerns� second innings lasted just 62 overs as they failed to haul 567 runs garnered by Northerns in their two sessions. They fell 269 runs short in a match in which Price was clearly the man of the series dominating with both ball and bat. Few would have thought Price would get 104 runs in two sessions.
But he did. His six wickets in the second innings and two in the first ensured he became the best bowlers in the second round. Although Manyumwa who took five in the first innings grabbed headlines, he failed to take any in the second session toil.
The Dabengwa captained Westerns were terrible in their batting while their bowling operated in fits and starts. In the two sessions none of their batsmen other than got a half century with Mark Vermuelen�s 44 off 97 balls in the first innings their highest score.
The second innings was particularly disappointing as they could only get 140 runs with Dabengwa top scoring on 34 off 69 balls batting at number eight.
Number 10 batsmen Mupariwa came to the crease with Westerns tottering at 106/9 till 403 runs in arrears and quickly went on repairing the innings hitting three boundaries and two maximums before he was cleanly bowled by Price for 33 off 44 balls in 41 minutes of occupation.
Njabulo Ncube was left stranded on 5 as Northerns claimed their second victory in as many matches going into the third round of matches on Monday when they face Easterns at the Academy grounds in the third round.
Centrals will engage Westerns at Harare Sports Club. Northerns are the defending champions of the Logan Cup
Wow, Centrals and Easterns drew. Nobody saw that comingNortherners cruise to comprehensive win over Westerns
NORTHERNS’ easy 269-runs cricket victory over a disappointing Westerns side came at a canter with captain Elton Chigumbura asking just three bowlers to finish off the opponents on the fourth day at Alexandra Sports Club yesterday.
After a late afternoon massacre in which Raymond Price and Graeme Cremer removed six batsmen for just 39 runs before stumps on Thursday, Chigumbura felt no need to employ his other bowlers, content with adding just the in-form Admire Manyumwa to the twin-spin menace for variation.
And they duly polished off the remaining four batsmen Mbekezeli Mabuza (28), Keith Dabengwa (34) Romeo Kasawaya (14) and Tawanda Mupariwa (33) with Price (6/69) clearly the match winner, licking up all resistance just before lunch to give the side extra time to rest ahead of Monday’s open-cast shift against rivals Easterns.
Westerns’ second innings lasted just 62 overs as they failed to haul 567 runs garnered by Northerns in their two sessions. They fell 269 runs short in a match in which Price was clearly the man of the series, dominating with both ball and bat.
Few would have thought Price would get 104 runs in two sessions.
But he did.
His six wickets in the second innings and two in the first ensured he became the best bowler in the second round. Although Manyumwa, who took five in the first innings, grabbed headlines, he failed to take any in the second session.
The Keith Dabengwa-captained Westerns were terrible in their batting while their bowling operated in fits and starts. In the two sessions none of their batsmen reached a half century with Mark Vermuelen’s 44 off 97 balls in the first innings their highest score.
The second innings was particularly disappointing as they could only get 140 runs with Dabengwa top-scoring on 34 off 69 balls, batting at number eight. Number 10 batsman Mupariwa came to the crease with Westerns tottering at 106/9 still 403 runs in arrears and quickly went on repairing the innings, hitting three boundaries and two maximums before he was clean-bowled by Price for 33 off 44 balls in 41 minutes of occupation.
Njabulo Ncube was left stranded on 5 as Northerns claimed their second victory in as many matches going into the third round of matches on Monday when they face Easterns at the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy grounds in the third round.
Centrals, who featured in a draw with Easterns at Alexandra, will play Westerns at Harare Sports Club.
Easterns resumed their second innings on 138 for four wickets on the fourth day yesterday, with Johnson Marumisa and Douglas Hondo at the crease.
Marumisa added 22 runs to his overnight 26 before he was caught by Chamunorwa Chibhabha off the bowling of Brighton Mugochi, while Hondo was good for 38 before he too fell to Mugochi – caught by Tafadzwa Kamungozi — who finished with five wickets for 115 runs in 37 overs, with seven maidens.
The highest scorer on the day for Easterns was Timycen Maruma, who continued to consolidate his case for all-rounder status with an unbeaten 66 runs off 91 balls, three of which were fours and two sixes.
And then there was the man who remains in the runs for both club and country. Forster Mutizwa was also left standing with 52 runs from 62 balls, four of them fours and one six.
He also featured in the highest partnership of the day — 103 runs for the eighth wicket with Maruma.
Centrals were 176 for four in their second innings when the match fizzled into a draw.
Scores
Northerns – 300 & 267: (E.Chigumbura 94, R.Price 77, T.Taibu 43; C.Mpofu 3/36 K.Dabengwa 3/78 T.Mupariwa 2/47).
Westerns – 158 & 140: (K.Dabengwa 34, T.Mupariwa 33 M.Mabuza 28, R.Price 6/69, G.Cremer 4/36).
Northerns beat Westerns by 269 runs. — www.zimcricket.org
