Tuskers – 154 all out in 55.2 overs (Brian Chari 57, Ainsley Ndlovu 35, Thabo Mboyi 14*; Trevor Garwe 5/34, Richard Ngarava 2/26, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/40)
Eagles – 144-3 in 33 overs (Richmond Mutumbami 66*, Regis Chakabva 40, Tino Mutombodzi 20*; Chris Mpofu 2/47, Ernest Masuku 1/30)
Day 1 – Stumps: Eagles trail by 10 runs with seven wickets remaining in the innings
Eagles’ experienced pace bowler Trevor Garwe returned to his best form at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday, taking five wickets for only 34 runs to shatter Tuskers’ batting on the first day of their Logan Cup match.
The pitch was not easy for batting, as the bounce was uneven and the batsmen were in particular danger of being bowled or trapped lbw by deliveries that kept low.
Garwe took advantage of this to perfection, bowling a very straight line that gave his opponents little room for error.
Tuskers no doubt regretted their decision to bat first, although the pitch is not likely to become easier later in the match.
Garwe struck early by bowling out Cunningham Ncube for a single with the score at 10.
Most of the Tuskers’ top order failed, with Taffy Mupariwa out for four, Craig Ervine for seven and Nkosana Mpofu for one.
The exception was Brian Chari, who played a superb innings for 57 out of 81 for five, before a straight ball from Garwe kept very low and trapped him lbw.
He had shown great judgment in sound defence and positive attack at every opportunity, and hit eight fours, facing 74 balls.
Of the other recognised batsmen, only Ryan Murray with 12 reached double figures and Tuskers were deep in trouble when their ninth wicket fell at 108.
However, the last man, Ainsley Ndlovu, decided the only chance he had was to hit out, and he did so in fine style, cracking up 35 off 32 balls before Garwe finally trapped him lbw and ended the innings at 154.
Thabo Mboyi had supported him well with 14 not out.
Of the other Eagles bowlers, Richard Ngarava and the off-spinner Tapiwa Mufudza took two wickets each.
Eagles were quickly rocked when they replied by losing both openers with only eight runs on the board.
Chris Mpofu, like Garwe experienced enough to know how to bowl on such a pitch, removed Cephas Zhuwao (0) and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (1), both lbw.
Regis Chakabva came to the rescue, attacking the bowling with good discrimination while Richmond Mutumbami showed sound defence in support.
Chakabva cracked up 40 out of 78, with seven fours, before he became the third lbw victim out of three, Ernest Masuku being the bowler this time.
Mutumbami now took a more aggressive role and became the top scorer of the day, unbeaten with 66 at the close, with Tino Mutombodzi a useful partner with 20 not out.
Eagles were looking good for a sizeable first-innings lead at the close, with a score of 144 for three wickets on the board, just 10 runs behind Tuskers with seven wickets still in hand.
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