Exclusive: Vigne Cup week 3 round-up
Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on October 02, 2008The match of the year took place last weekend, with Harare Sports Club pushing the league leaders Uprising right to the edge.
Uprising batted first, and top order batsman Clement Rishibowa, who played a handful of First Class games for Southerns earlier this year, led the way with a hard fought 40 runs. He received little assistance, with Tapiwa Kuhlengisa the only other batsman to achieve a respectable score - 35.
The Harare Sports Club bowlers, namely the recent surprise Zimbabwe A squad inclusion and former Falcon College student Gerald Aliseni with his medium fast deliveries, and Test player Graeme Cremer, bowled through the Uprising batting lineup. Aliseni was the leading wicket taker with 3/35, while Cremer took 2/22.
Isheanesu Hega offered some resistance towards the end of the innings with an unbeaten 16, but it was not enough to save Uprising from being bowled all out for just 170.
Harare Sports Club got off to a good start thanks to Malcolm Waller's 68, but his dismissal made the going tough. Pablo Takudzwa scored 25, while Oscar Chirimutenda added 20, but it was the Uprising bowlers who deserved the credit. The wickets were spread rather evenly, though Tapiwa Kuhlengisa's good day continued as he was Uprising's leading wicket taker with 2/33. The ever reliable captain, Robertson Chinyengetere, took 2/38.
It went to the wire, with Harare Sports Club losing their last wicket on 169 runs. Uprising won the match by 1 runs, and retain their top position on the Vigne Cup leader board with 3 straight wins.
Uprising's second eleven also had a close encounter, but with Dazzlers. D. Mukoki top scored for Uprising 2 with 65, while Vusi Mapala added 41. The Mukaronda brothers, Tinashe and V., were among the wickets for Dazzlers with 2/38 and 4/61 respectively.
Finishing their innings at 7/180, Francis Sande led the way for Dazzlers with an impressive 55. Pablo Mungofa and Joseph Madyembwa ensured Uprising would end victors though, with 3 wickets apiece.
Dakarai Kuhlengisa, brother of first eleven player Tapiwa, took 2 wickets for 26.
No other scorecards have been made available for this rounds matches, although it is safe to assume that Takashinga 1 defeated Old Malvernians, considering Old Malvernians poor form.
Vigne Cup important statistics (as of October 2):
Highest score: Malcolm Waller (Harare Sports Club) - 68 vs Uprising, September 28
Best bowling performance: Ronald Mutopo (Eagles) - 8/40 vs Uprising 2, September 21