Maunze stars with the ball

AFTER the remarkable bowling success of Bothwell Chapungu on the first day of this Logan Cup match at Kwekwe Sports Club, another unexpected bowling hero emerged on the second, as Kudzai Maunze, number three batsman for Harare Metropolitan Eagles and parttime off-spinner, took six wickets for only 35 runs in the Midlands Rhinos innings.

Although Rhinos fell 43 runs behind on the first innings, they pulled themselves back into the match in a big way during the final four overs of the day, when they struck three Eagles wickets down for only five runs.

Eagles had started the day at 316 for nine wickets, with their last two batsmen still at the crease, Cuthbert Musoko with 23 and Herbert Chikomba six.

The demon bowler of the first day, Chapungu, opened the bowling, and Musoko responded by hitting his first delivery back over his head for four. However, Mike Chinouya at the other end, removed Musoko with his second ball, the batsman skying a catch into the covers to end the innings for 321. Musoko made 28 while Chikomba remained unbeaten with six, and between them they had put on a very useful 34 runs for the last wicket.

Chapungu’s final figures were 7-83, the first time he has taken more than three in an innings with his occasional off-breaks and his teammates warmly clapped him off the field. When Rhinos went in he struggled for three runs off his first 15 balls.

Then suddenly the giant awoke, and Musoko was first to feel the wrath of his bat, as Chapungu drove him for three powerful fours in his fourth over.

Tanyaradzwa Munyaradzi replaced Musoko, and quietened Chapungu with a very good maiden over.

His partner Tendai Maruma showed at times a desire to dominate the bowling, but, although this was not the normal familiar partnership between the pair, it prospered.

By lunch they had completed a century partnership, the score at the break being 101 without loss off 22 overs; both batsmen had 46, Chapungu off 61 balls and Maruma off 72.

Maruma cut the first ball after the interval, from Trevor Garwe, for four, thus reaching his fifty off 73 balls.

In the next over Chapungu beat that for pace, if not for time, by completing his own fifty off 64 balls.

Soon afterwards, Eagles missed their chance of breaking through when Chapungu was dropped at slip off Garwe.

But the stand ended unexpectedly at 132, as Maruma (59) popped the easiest of catches into the covers off Chikomba; he faced 92 balls and hit eight fours and two sixes. With the first ball of Chikomba’s next over Chapungu pushed forward and edged a catch to slip, for 63 off 81 balls, with nine fours. Chikomba was on a hattrick, but Takudzwa Kaitano successfully blocked the delivery.

Maunze took his fourth wicket when Mayavo miscued an attempted slog for six and holed out in the deep for 44; 240 for eight, and deficit on first innings almost certain now. Maunze’s success with the ball was as surprising as that of Chapungu.

Chikomba came in as a second night-watchman, and almost popped up a leg-side catch in the final over, but survived to fight tomorrow with the match in an intriguing situation.

This will make Eagles 48 runs ahead with three wickets down at the start of the third day.

SCORES

Harare Metropolitan Eagles - 321 and 5-3 in 4 overs (Kudzai Maunze 4*, Herbert Chikomba 0*; Michael Chinouya 2/5, Tafara Cjingwara 1/0)

Midlands Rhinos - 278 all out in 79.5 overs (Bothwell Chapungu 63, Tendai Maruma 59, Nyasha Mayavo 44; Kudzai Maunze 6/35, Herbert Chikomba 4/99)

Day 2 - Stumps: Harare Metropolitan Eagles lead by 48 runs with seven wickets remaining.

Day 2 - STUMPS: Mountaineers 269 & 57-2 in 19 ov (Roy Kaia 23, Ealahk 21*) lead Tuskers (228) by 98 runs, 8 wickets in hand. - zimcricket.