Easterns lay down a marker

Easterns thrashed a weakened Westerns side by an innings and 275 runs at Zimbabwe Cricket Academy in the opening round of the 2008-09 Logan Cup. With a number of their key players on duty with Zimbabwe's A team, Westerns' batting was always off the pace as they were bowled out for 156 and 110. Had Easterns' fielding not been sloppy they would have struggled to reach three figures. Westerns' bowling wasn't much better as Easterns cruised to 541 for 9, with Forster Mutizwa (124), Steven Nyamuzinga (120), Stuart Matsikenyeri (111) and Hamilton Masakadza (107) all making hundreds.

At Harare Sports Club, Northerns beat Centrals by three wickets in a much closer if low-scoring contest. Centrals made 184, Malcolm Waller providing the backbone with 69, and Elton Chigumbura's 82 helped Northerns reply with 186. Waller was again in good form, making 73, as Centrals scored 180, setting a target of 181. ed Rainsford took 4 for 20 but that was not enough to prevent Northerns edging home, Ray Price leading the charge with 58 off 77 balls.