Faithwear round-up: day 4

Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on March 05, 2009

Day 4 saw the highly anticipated clash between Northerns and Easterns, and the latter came out on top. Meanwhile, Westerns overcame Centrals thanks to a fine half century from Charles Coventry.

Centrals vs Westerns, CFX Academy

Batting first, Centrals put up a good fight. Malcolm Waller finally hit form with a career best 72. Erick Chauluka added 50. Tawanda Mupariwa was the pick of the bowlers with 4/37. Centrals skipper Chamu Chibhabha was out for a first ball duck, caught by Freedom Takarusenga off Mupariwa's bowling, ending his fine run of form. In reply, it was Takarusenga again that led the run chase early on - Westerns needing 227 to win. Mark Vermeulen was caught off the bowling of Rainsford for 22, allowing Takarusenga and Tafadzwa Ngulube to build a 59 run partnership. Takarusenga's innings ended on 40, while Charles Coventry continued the good work, scoring a powerful 81 including 7 fours and 4 sixes. Keith Dabengwa added 30 to ensure a 2 wicket victory for Westerns. Ed Rainsford took 3/15 from 9 overs while Malcolm Waller was amongst the wickets again with 2/43.

Easterns vs Northerns, Takashinga Cricket Club

Easterns scored 283 from their 50 overs courtesy of some good top order batting. Bernard Mlambo scored 50 before departing, while Stuart Matsikenyeri added 69. Batting at number three - not entirely unexpectedly - Prosper Utseya scored 49. Johnson Marumisa and Forster Mutizwa added 24 and 34 respectively, which in addition to some wayward bowling conceding 25 extras gave Easterns a handy total to defend. Ray Price was the standout bowler with 4/30. Graeme Cremer was the only other bowler besides Price to bowl out his fall allocation, but received harsh treatment today, going wicketless for 58 runs.

Northerns also innovated today, sending Ray Price up to number 3 in what appeared to be the role of a pinch hitter. Price scored 22 from 12 balls before he was caught by Hamilton Masakadza. Regis Chakabva kept Northerns in it with 29 from 38, and an 87 run partnership between allrounders Elton Chigumbura and Graeme Cremer almost put Northerns in control. But Chigumbura was dismissed on 65, leaving Cremer the impossible task of finding 60 runs from the remaining 6 overs. When the final wicket fell, Cremer was stranded on 55 not out - the team 34 runs short of their target. All of the Easterns bowlers - bar Timycen Maruma who went for 31 from his 4 overs - chipped in, Hamilton Masakadza ending with the best figures with 2/26.