Garwe's five hastens Tuskers' slide

Mashonaland Eagles completed a nine-wicket win over Matabeleland Tuskers in Harare. Matabeleland were left to rue two unsatisfactory batting innings; in the first they were dismissed for 217, Greg Lamb taking four wickets, and in the second they were all out for 153 with Trevor Garwe claiming five.

Matabeleland showed little fight as they went down on the final day. Barring a stubborn stand Sean Williams and Keith Dabengwa, there was little to speak of. Matabeleland entered the final day on 70 for 4, still 20 runs behind after Mashonaland had taken a lead of 90, and lost both overnight batsmen without an addition to that score. That brought in Dabengwa to join Williams, and the pair put on the one substantial partnership of the innings. Williams was let off in the slips off Elton Chigumbura when on 1, while at the other end Dabengwa lobbed two balls in the air and nearly ran himself out.

Somehow the pair added 63, almost doubling the side's total, before Ray Price came on and snapped the stand by trapping Williams lbw for 33. With that went any resistance. Garwe finished with 5 for 43 and there were two wickets each for Chigumbura and Kyle Jarvis.

Chasing 64 to win, the Mashonaland openers Sam Mwakayeni and Tafadzwa Mufambisi bolted out of the blocks. John Nyumbu's first two overs went for 19 and the team's fifty was up in 30 minutes before Mufambisi went for 18. Mwakayeni wasn't about to slow down and slammed 34 from 22 balls to hasten victory.

At the Kwekwe Sports Club, a rain-marred draw played out between Mid West Rhinos and Southern Rocks. There was no play possible on days two and four, after Rhinos opted to bat and scored 179 for 9 on the opening day. It was a disappointing effort from them, with only the opener Bothwell Chapungu (75) crossing 22. Rhinos were dismissed for 185 on day three and then the Southern Rocks opener batted two deliveries before the weather played spoilsport.