Tuskers – 321 all out in 103.4 overs (Tafara Mupariwa 81, Aliakbar Hamid 70, Clive Madande 66; Wellington Masakadza 4/46, Tendai Chatara 2/61, Vincent Masekesa 2/84)
Mountaineers – 9-2 declared and 52-0 in 8 overs (Brian Bennett 29*, Matthew Welch 23*)
Match drawn
After three days dominated by slow progress, Tuskers resumed their first innings on 256 for four, with Aliakbar Hamid unbeaten on 50 and Clive Madande on 46.
Both pressed on positively on the final morning, Madande reaching 66 and Hamid compiling a steady 70 before Wellington Masakadza struck back for Mountaineers.
The left-arm spinner claimed the last four wickets for 46 runs as Tuskers’ lower order looked to accelerate, the innings closing on 321.
With time running out and weather threatening, both teams agreed to set up a possible finish.
Mountaineers batted briefly, managing only nine runs for two wickets in four overs – Alistair Frost falling without scoring and Nick Welch for one, while Brian Bennett remained unbeaten on seven.
Mountaineers then declared and, in a sporting gesture, Tuskers immediately forfeited their second innings, leaving Mountaineers a target of 313 to chase.
An exciting finish seemed on the cards as Bennett and Matthew Welch attacked from the outset, racing to 52 without loss in just eight overs – Bennett on 29 and Welch on 23 – before bad light and steady rain returned to wash away any hopes of play resuming.
Over in Kwekwe, persistent rain again meant no play was possible on the final day of the Logan Cup contest between Rhinos and Southern Rocks, and the match ultimately petered out into a draw.
