The Matebeleland Tuskers cricket team of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, ran up 195 runs on Wednesday against the Mutare Mountaineers who posted 56 runs in the first day of the Castle Logan Cup and were to continue to chase the Tuskers on Thursday.
Matabeleland Tuskers bowlers, in particular Keegan Meth, put up a fine performance and reduced hosts Mutare Mountaineers to 56 for four at close.
The Mountaineers had their full team fit and available but Matabeleland were plagued by injury especially its top-of-the-order batsmen. The team's regular captain Gavin Ewing was out with a dislocated shoulder and handed the captaincy to Keith Dabengwa.
Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman Jeffrey Murimbechi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that fixtures like the Logan Cup are important in preparing the country’s return to test status after a long absence.
"Matabeleland Tuskers opened with a partnership between Mbeke Mabuza and Brad Staddon. Thereafter it was one dismissal after another, the score stood at 71 for four at lunch and became 103 for six," Murimbechi said. "Njabulo Ncube posted his his best career score 29 off only 17 balls but this did not help his team move past 195 runs."
Mountaineers posted 56 runs for four with Hamilton Masakadza accounting for 18 runs with day two of the cup still before him on Thursday.
In other sports news, the Premier Soccer League has said that it will no longer make loans to member clubs saying they should stand on their own to prove they belong to the top flight of Zimbabwean football, as Michael Kariati reported from Harare.
Though the PSL has signed with Delta Beverages as sponsor for the 2011 season, League officials said the agreement does not permit financial support of clubs.