zimcricketnews.com

The Herald reports that Eagles coach Chris Silverwood has left the side ahead of the English county season, after being called in to fill the role of bowling coach for Essex (and not Sussex as the Herald's article initially states). It's not all bad news for Eagles, though, as the franchise expects Silverwood to return next season. In the meantime, former national coach Walter Chawaguta will be 'helping out' with the side - although team manager Joseph Madyembwa was at pains to point out that Chawaguta has not been given a contract - with Douglas Hondo taking on the player-coach role.
The Herald - Chris Silverwood leaves for England

Yesterday, Eagles thrashed Mountaineers in the final round of group matches - today, in the Stanbic T20 final, Mountaineers turned the tables and gave Eagles a taste of their own medicine to claim the title after a highly entertaining tournament. Mountaineers won the toss and put Eagles in to bat, and the home side were simply unable to really get going as wickets fell regularly, with no-one able to form a foundation for the innings. Elton Chigumbura's 20 was the best of the bunch, as Eagles were removed for 105 in the 19th over. Greg Smith took 3/11 to lead the bowling figures for Mountaineers. In reply, Mountaineers were never in any trouble - Smith (1) was the only wicket to fall, with the score on 8, after which Hamilton Masakadza (64*) and Tatenda Taibu (37*) knocked off the required runs wit little fuss, reaching the target with 15 balls to spare. Masakadza was subsequently named Player of the Series and Batsman of the Series, with Vipers' Tony Palladino being named Bowler of the Series. Full scorecard below the cut.
Eagles 105 (18.4 overs; Chigumbura 20, Smith 3/11), Mountaineers 106/1 (17.3 overs; H Masakadza 64*, Hondo 1/19). Mountaineers win by 9 wickets.

In what could well be a prelude of tomorrow's final, Mountaineers and Mashonaland Eagles met in the first of today's matches in the Stanbic T20, and if the result was anything to go by, the trophy can be handed to Eagles already. Batting first after being put in to bat, Eagles only managed to score 141/9 from their 20 overs, with Greb Lamb's 40 being the only real innings of note as Greg Smith took an impressive 5/27 for Mountaineers to keep Eagles in check. If Eagles were poor, though, Mountaineers were some way below woeful - only Hamilton Masakadza (16) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (10) reach double figures as their side was skittled out for 59 inside 12 overs. Ray Price was the man who did the damage, surpassing Greg Smith's efforts with a haul of 5/12 from just 17 balls bowled. Now, what happens next depends on which version of the tournament table you're looking at. If CricInfo and Cricket Archive's table is correct, then Rhinos are still in with a shout of reaching the final if they beat Vipers this afternoon; SuperSport have been using a different table in their broadcasts, and if that's correct then it's already settled that Eagles will meet Mountaineers again tomorrow afternoon. We'll have to wait and see who's correct. Full scorecard for this match below the cut.
Eagles 141/9 (20 overs; Lamb 40, Smith 5/27), Mountaineers 59 (11.5 overs; H Masakadza 16, Price 5/12). Eagles win by 82 runs.

Another match, another down-to-the-wire thriller - this competition surely isn't lacking in entertainment and close finishes. The teams this time around were Southern Rocks and Mashonaland Eagles, in the second match of the day, and once again Rocks will be rueing their bad fortune after another agonisingly narrow loss. Eagles won the toss and opted to field, allowing Rocks to do their best to carry on where they left off yesterday as the opening pairing of Chamu Chibhabha (61) and Sikandar Raza (38) saw the side to 111 off 81 balls before the first wicket fell. At that point, though, the wheels fell off as three wickets fell in three balls during a Doug Marillier over (sadly not a hat-trick, as the third wicket was a run-out). Alester Maregwede (20*) and Steve Tikolo (36) were fortunately able to rebuild from there to see Rocks to a competitive total of 168/4. In reply, Eagles suffered wobbles of their own, with the early wickets of Doug Marillier and Prince Masvaure slowing their charge to the total, but an impressive unbeaten 81 off 52 balls by Cephas Zhuwawo formed the backbone of the innings, with Elton Chigumbura's 41 form 27 also proving useful. At the death, though, it was a rapid-fire 13 not-out from 5 balls by Forster Mutizwa that powered Eagles past the target with just one ball to spare. That gives Eagles a clear lead at the top of the table, although with just two games played Vipers could yet mount a charge of their own. Let's hear it for close competitions. Full scorecard below the cut.
Rocks 168/4 (20 overs; Chibhabha 61, Marillier 2/11), Eagles 171/4 (19.5 overs; Zhuwawo 81, Sikandar Raza 1/20). Eagles win by 6 wickets.

The first match of the day at Harare Sports Club saw Desert Vipers lose their unbeaten record, after they were narrowly beaten by Mashonaland Eagles in a close-fought thriller. Eagles won the toss and put Vipers in to bat, and, ironically led by Zimbabwean player Norbert Manyande's 51, Vipers posted a decent 142. Early breakthroughs by Eagles' bowlers had left the Namibian side looking shaky at 24/3 before Manyande paired up with Dwaine Pretorious for an 88-run partnership for the 4th wicket, scored at more than a run a ball, that put the Vipers back on track. Douglas Hondo led the bowling for the Eagles, taking 2/13. In reply, Doug Marillier proved the rock of Eagles' innings, scoring 74 before bowing out with his side just keeping up with the required rate. Eagles reached their final over needing 5 runs to win with 5 wickets in hand, but needed just two balls of the over to finish the match off. Full scorecard below the cut.
Vipers 142/6 (20 overs; Manyande 51, Hondo 2/13), Eagles 144/5 (19.1 overs; Marillier 74, Klazinga 1/13). Eagles win by 5 wickets.

Midwest Rhinos got off the mark with a win against Mashonaland Eagles in the first of today's Stanbic T20 matches. Eagles were put into bat after Rhinos won the toss, and with the notable exception of captain Elton Chigumbura, who top-scored for his side with an impressive 53, none of the Eagles batsmen were ever able to really get going. Darren Stevens did most of the damage with the ball, taking 4/26 from his 4 overs. Rhinos' reply was perfectly paced, too, helped along by an Eagles attack that failed to take any wickets (the two men out were both runouts). Brendan Taylor impressed win an unabated 45, Vusi Sibanda's superb season continued as he chipped in with 41, while Rikki Wessels added 37 as Rhinos reached their target with a ball to spare. Full scorecard below the cut.
Eagles 140 (20 overs; Chigumbura 53, Stevens 4/26), Rhinos 146/2 (19.5 overs; Taylor 45*, Price 0/15). Rhinos win by 8 wickets.

The second match of the day at Harare Sports Club was Mashonaland Eagles versus Matabeleland Tuskers, with Tuskers looking to find the sort of form that has so far evaded them in both longer forms of the game. Eagles won the toss and opted to field, allowing Tuskers to set the pace for the match, but with wickets falling regularly (including four run-outs) they were unable to do so. A decidedly out-of-form Sean Williams topped the scoring with 44 as the side stuttered their way to 118/7 from their 20 overs. Needing 119 to win, Eagles never really seemed to be in trouble, powering their way to the target within 18 overs. Elton Chigumbura lived up to his "Boom Boom" nickname, firing 48 off just 34 balls and ensuring that Eagles eased home with 15 balls to spare. Full scorecard below the cut.
Tuskers 118/7 (20 overs; Williams 44*, Chigumbura 2/27), Eagles 121/5 (17.3 overs; Chigumbura 48*, Dabengwa 2/13). Eagles win by 5 wickets.

Matabeleland Tuskers deprived Mashonaland Eagles of their unbeated record in the latest round of Logan Cup matches, although any joy at the win should be tempered by it being over a clearly second-string Eagles side, as coach Chris Silverwood opted to rest his top players with his side already assured of top place in the tournament table and a place in the final. Put into bat after Eagles won the toss, Tuskers set a first-innings total of 425 before declaring with 2 wickets in hand, with Keith Dabengwa leading from the front with 136, and Bornaparte Mujuru (71) and Dion Ebrahim (74) also making significant contributions. Innocent Chinyoka (4/83) was the most effective of an Eagles attack that saw 9 different bowlers have a go.

The Eagles batting was even less effective than the bowling, too. In their first innings, they were bowled out for 264, falling short of the follow-on target and being forced to bat again as a result. Prince Masvaure led the first-innings scoring with 94, while Ryan Butterworth's 102 in the second added at least some respectability to the score as Eagles were bowled out again, this time for an even 300. Chris Mpofu claimed a 5-wicket haul in the second innings to top the bowling figures for Tuskers.

Eagles' capitulation left Tuskers with a fairly easy 140 to chase to win, which they managed for the loss of three wickets. Mujuru again played a key role with the bat, scoring 61 not-out as Tuskers eased home. That ends the 'regular season' for Eagles, who have a bye for the final round of matches but can rest assured that they can't be caught by the sides behind them, while Tuskers go on to play Rocks in a dead rubber that shouldn't affect their final standings. Full scorecard below the cut.
Tuskers 425/8 decl (105.2 overs; Dabengwa 136, Chinyoka 4/83) & 142/3 (32.4 overs; Mujuru 61*, Munyede 1/14), Eagles 264 (96.4 overs; Masvaure 94, Nyumbu 3/77) & 300 (following on; 102.3 overs; Butterworth 102, Mpofu 5/75). Tuskers win by 7 wickets.

Another poor outing by Southern Rocks saw Mashonaland Eagles claim an innings victory, ensuring that their lead at the top of the Logan Cup table is now essentially unassailable - the side enjoys a 25-point lead over second-placed Mountaineers with both sides having only one match remaining. Rocks batted first after Eagles won the toss and opted to field, but managed only 188 - Hilary Matanga led with 38, while Elton Chigumbura took 4/49. Eagles then got their chance, and posted a modest 275/9 in reply before declaring, with Chigumbura scoring 78. Tanyaradzwa Munyaradzi took 4/58 for Rocks. Eagles total wasn't anything spectacular, even by the standards of the Logan Cup - but an abject collapse by Rocks in their second innings made sure that there was no need for Eagles to bat again. Rocks added just 68 - Chamu Chibhabha (21) was the best of the bunch and one of only three players to reach double figures. Ray Price led the carnage for Eagles, taking 4/21, as Rocks continued bumping along at the bottom of the table. Full scorecard below the cut.
Rocks 188 (72.1 overs; Matanga 38, Chigumbura 4/49) & 68 (56 overs; Chibhabha 21, Price 4/21), Eagles 275/9 decl (73.4 overs; Chigumbura 78, Munyaradzi 4/58). Eagles win by an innings and 19 runs.

Eagles' draw with Rhinos was enough for them to secure their position at the top of the Logan Cup table, and saw Rhinos fall further off the pace in the race for a place in the final with only two matches to play. With Eagles batting first after Rhinos chose to field, Greg Lamb led the way with 171, with support from Elton Chigumbura (53) and Regis Chakabva (70) as the side posted 376, with Ed Rainsford and Graeme Cremer claiming 4 wickets apiece. With Rhinos' best score in reply being Rikki Wessels' 66, though, the home side were left with a 90-run deficit after declaring on 286/9.

Come their second innings, though, Eagles looked far more vulnerable as Cremer ripped through the side, taking a career-best 8/92. It was only the tail-end efforts of Trevor Garwe (53*) that saved Eagles' blushes - and left Rhinos short of time to mount their comeback. Needing 295 from their second innings to win, they were able to reach only 168/5 before the close on the final day, with Mluleki Nkala (57) and Friday Kasteni (44) posting a 109-run opening partnership while Ray Price took 2/35 for Eagles. Full scorecard below the cut.
Eagles 376 (101.4 overs; Lamb 171, Rainsford 4/57) & 204 (78.4 overs; Garwe 53*, Cremer 8/92), Rhinos 286/9 decl (84.4 overs; Wessels 66, Chigumbura 4/66) & 168/5 (66 overs; Nkala 57, Rice 2/35). Match drawn.