Three-way showdown looms

Three teams remain in contention for the title after the fourth round of the Faithwear Cup. Wins for Easterns and Westerns mean that they go into the final round in contention, as are defending champions Northerns.

Easterns easily beat Centrals in a rain-affected match at Harare County Club, winning by 73 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method after they reached 197 for 2 chasing 238. Centrals batted reasonably enough, with fifties from Bothwell Chapungu and Erick Chauluka forming the cornerstone of their innings. But aggressive knocks from Timycen Maruma (83 off 92 balls) and Hamilton Masakadza (61 off 67) made mincemeat of the bowling and by the time the rains came the game was done and dusted.

Westerns had far more of a struggle to beat Southerns at Harare Sports Club, eventually edging them out by six runs. Westerns made heavy weather in scoring 151, and a superb 80 from Chamu Chibhabha almost single-handedly steered Southerns home. Batting at No.3, he made an unbeaten 80 but was unable to find any support from his team-mates and was left high and dry with more than two overs remaining.