Mountaineers – 402 and 256-5 declared in 37.5 overs (Alistair Frost 99, Mathew Welch 76, Timycen Maruma 23*; William Mashinge 3/68, Cuthbert Musoko 1/46, Takudzwa Chataira 1/58)
Southern Rocks – 296 and 223-9 in 58.1 overs (Roy Kaia 55, Alvin Chiradza 44, Johnathan Campbell 34; Vincent Masekesa 4/91, Wellington Masakadza 2/27, Victor Nyauchi 2/37)
Match drawn
In a thrilling finish at Mutare Sports Club on Thursday, Mountaineers leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa took three wickets in five balls to take his team to the verge of victory over Southern Rocks, who collapsed to 223 for nine wickets.
Mountaineers began the final day of this Logan Cup match on 113 for three wickets in their second innings, a lead of 219 over Rocks, with Mathew Welch on 38 and Alistair Frost on 20.
Their aim was to hit up runs quickly before a declaration that would give them enough time to bowl Rocks out in their second innings.
They certainly achieved their aim in fine style with the bat, Welch going on to make 76 off 66 balls, his partnership with Frost adding 127 runs in only 18 overs.
Frost lost his wicket on 99, falling just a run short of what would have been his maiden first-class century to become William Mashinge’s 100th first-class wicket.
He had faced 94 balls and hit four sixes and four fours.
Mountaineers immediately declared at 256 for five, scored off only 47.5 overs, which set Rocks a target of 363 runs to win while they needed to bowl them out before the close.
Victor Nyauchi soon struck for Mountaineers, dismissing the Rocks opening pair for 20 runs on the board.
Roy Kaia led the resistance with 55, supported by Johnathan Campbell (24) and Mashinge (28), but Mountaineers were on top when the sixth wicket fell at 147.
Then Alvin Chiradza and Richmond Mutumbami fought back by adding 76 for the seventh wicket and, with the light fading, it seemed that Rocks had earned themselves a draw.
Then, in his 20th over, Masekesa struck: he had Chiradza stumped for 44 off his second ball, while his third bowled out Priviledge Chesa.
Takudzwa Chataira survived the next two deliveries, only to be out lbw off the final ball.
With nine wickets down Mutumbami, on 31, faced the bowling of Wellington Masakadza, but after one delivery the umpires drew stumps and Mountaineers were denied the victory they had worked so hard for.
