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HARARE - Matebeleland Tuskers stranglehold on the domestic Logan Cup cricket competition continues to wane following their 86-run defeat to Mid West Rhinos in Kwekwe yesterday.
It was the Tuskers’ second defeat in three matches and the three-time Logan Cup champions are looking out of their depth this season.
The other defeat came at the hands of Mountaineers last month when Tuskers suffered a 40-run loss at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo last month.
Tuskers had made the Logan Cup their personal property since the inception of the franchise system in 2010 and their dominance seems to be coming to an end now.
In Kwekwe, Rhinos won the toss and elected to bat first before reaching a total of 265 in their first innings.
The home team was buoyed by two half centuries by former Mashonaland Eagles player Peter Moor with 81 runs and middle-order batsman Neville Madziva's 70.
The pick of the Tuskers bowlers from that first innings was off-spinner John Nyumbu, who picked up four wickets for 89 runs while medium seamer Steve Chimhamhiwa picked two wickets for 44 runs from 18 overs.
In their chase, Tuskers fell 63 runs shy of the hosts’ total in their first innings after they succumbed to 202 runs all out after 63.2.
After excelling with the bat earlier, Madziva went on to pick four wickets for Rhinos and was ably supported by Kuda Munyede, who claimed three wickets.
The highlight of Tuskers’ first innings was the maiden first class century from top-order batsman Brian Chari, who scored 116 runs.
Chari, however, got little support from the rest of his teammates.
The second innings saw a rejuvenated Tuskers' bowling attack restricting Rhinos to 171 all out inside 59.2 overs.
Chimhamhiwa and Tawanda Mupariwa both took four wickets while Nyumbu and Keith Dabengwa picked three wickets apiece.
The Tuskers’ batting line-up continued to disappoint as they could score 148 when they needed to reach 234 to win the match.
Once again, Rhino's spinner, Munyede was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 52 runs from 20 overs.
Chinouya, Madziva and Bright Njanji picked up took two wickets each.
Meanwhile, the match between Southern Rocks and Mountaineers ended in a rain draw in Masvingo yesterday.
The match was stopped as Mountaineers were still trailing Rocks by 52 runs in their first innings.
