Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NICK Welch scored his fourth century of the 2024/25 Logan Cup season for Mountaineers in just his third match, as they played out a draw against Tuskers at Mutare Sports Club.
Welch made a superb 159 on the fourth day of the match, ensuring a draw for the Manicaland provincial side.
This is now his highest score in First-Class cricket, surpassing his previous best of 151, which he made against Rocks just over a week ago.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Mountaineers declared their first innings on 253/9 from 81 overs. Tuskers responded in kind, scoring 423 all out in 135.3 overs, taking a 170-run lead going into the second innings.
Mountaineers went into the final day aiming for a draw and finished on 351/4 from 126 overs, thanks to Welch’s brilliant century.
In their first innings, Mountaineers did not bat particularly well, with Joylord Gumbie and Timycen Maruma scoring half-centuries.
Maruma top-scored with 64 runs off 115 balls, while Gumbie, opening the batting, made 60 runs from 95 balls.
Luke Jongwe was the pick of the Tuskers bowlers, claiming three wickets for 49 runs from 15 overs, while Mgcini Dube and Nkosana Mpofu took two wickets apiece.
Ainsley Ndlovu and Brain Mudzinganyama each claimed one wicket.
Tuskers had two centuries, courtesy of Ali Hamid and Will Fraine. Hamid scored an impressive 160 runs from 267 balls, while Fraine made 103 runs off 152 balls, helping his team establish a sizeable lead.
There was heartbreak for Mudzinganyama, who was dismissed for 49 runs off 131 balls.
Vincent Masekesa was the standout bowler for Mountaineers, finishing with figures of 4/127 from 41 overs, while Tendai Chatara and Definite Mawadzi took two wickets each. Victor Nyauchi claimed one scalp for the hosts.
