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Defending champions Easterns kept in touch with log leaders Northerns with a convincing 385-run win over Centrals at Mutare Sports Club. Easterns’ batting, led by Hamilton Masakadza’s 205-ball 117 (and back by a useful 67 in the second innings), was the difference between the sides - but it was fireworks from Forster Mutizwa which lit up the game. The 22-year-old clubbed 102 from 92 balls with 13 fours and four sixes during the second innings as Easterns set a huge target of 492 for the visitors. In their innings, Centrals mustered 169 and 107, with Prosper Utseya (5/28) doing the damage in their first innings and Steady Musoso (5/43) in their second. Brighton Mugochi was one of Centrals’ few highlights, taking 8/158 in the match.

The win leaves Easterns in with a shout of overhauling Northerns to retain their title. Easterns have a bye week this week while Northerns face Centrals - if Northerns win that match it’s all over, but if they lose, then Easterns’ final match (against Westerns beginning on 17th May) will suddenly gain a lot more significance. Full scorecard for this match is below the cut.
Easterns 294 (H Masakadza 117, Mugochi 5/69) & 367/8 decl (Mutizwa 102, Mugochi 3/89), Centrals 169 (Chauluka 84, Utseya 5/28) & 107 (Chauluka 30, Musoso 5/43). Easterns win by 385 runs.

Easterns 1st innings
TMK Mawoyo 	lbw b Chinouya 	                42
J Marumisa 	b Mugochi 	                49
H Masakadza 	c Chikunya b Muzarabani 	117
S Matsikenyeri 	c Chikunya b Mugochi 	        0
S Matsika 	lbw b Mugochi 	                4
T Maruma 	c Mahlunge b Nyathi 	        2
F Mutizwa 	c Muzarabani b Mugochi  	37
P Utseya 	c Mahlunge b Mugochi 	        8
S Masakadza 	c Mugochi b Muzarabani  	7
S Musoso 	b Muzarabani 	                0
S Mujaji 	not out 	                1
    Extras 	(b 6, lb 2, w 12, nb 7) 	27
    Total 	(all out; 98.3 overs) 	        294 

Fall of wickets: 1-85 (Marumisa), 2-133 (Mawoyo), 3-134 (Matsikenyeri),
4-138 (Matsika), 5-164 (Maruma), 6-244 (Mutizwa), 7-257 (Utseya),
8-278 (S Masakadza), 9-278 (Musoso), 10-294 (H Masakadza, 98.3 ov)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ
T Muzarabani 	25.3 	12 	54 	3 	2.11 	(5nb)
MT Chinouya 	26 	7 	73 	1 	2.80 	(6w)
J Matigonda 	16 	6 	55 	0 	3.43 	(2nb, 1w)
SF Mire 	4 	0 	19 	0 	4.75
B Mugochi 	20 	4 	69 	5 	3.45 	(5w)
R Nyathi 	7 	2 	16 	1 	2.28 	

Centrals 1st innings
BM Chapungu 	c Mujaji b S Masakadza 	        0
T Mahlunge 	lbw b Mujaji 	                0
M Waller 	c Mutizwa b S Masakadza 	16
I Chikunya 	c Mutizwa b S Masakadza 	0
E Chauluka 	b Utseya 	                84
SF Mire 	c Mutizwa b H Masakadza 	10
R Nyathi 	c Musoso b Utseya 	        19
T Muzarabani 	c Marumisa b Utseya 	        6
B Mugochi 	c H Masakadza b Utseya 	        0
MT Chinouya 	b Utseya 	                9
J Matigonda 	not out 	                0
    Extras 	(b 4, w 2, nb 19) 	        25
    Total 	(all out; 54.2 overs) 	        169 

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Mahlunge), 2-24 (Chapungu), 3-24 (Waller),
4-27 (Chikunya), 5-42 (Mire), 6-82 (Nyathi), 7-88 (Muzarabani),
8-97 (Mugochi), 9-145 (Chinouya), 10-169 (Chauluka, 54.2 ov)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ
S Masakadza 	8 	3 	15 	3 	1.87 	(5nb, 1w)
S Mujaji 	6 	1 	44 	1 	7.33 	(10nb)
S Musoso 	5 	2 	20 	0 	4.00
H Masakadza 	5 	1 	20 	1 	4.00
P Utseya 	14.2 	6 	28 	5 	1.95
T Maruma 	11 	2 	33 	0 	3.00
S Matsikenyeri 	5 	2 	5 	0 	1.00 	(1w)

Easterns 2nd innings
TMK Mawoyo 	lbw b Muzarabani 	        4
P Utseya 	c Mahlunge b Mugochi 	        44
J Marumisa 	lbw b Mugochi 	                42
T Maruma 	run out (Mugochi) 	        16
H Masakadza 	c Mahlunge b Matigonda 	        67
S Matsikenyeri 	c Waller b Nyathi 	        35
S Matsika 	b Mugochi 	                24
F Mutizwa 	not out 	                102
S Masakadza 	b Muzarabani 	                1
S Musoso 	not out 	                4
    Extras 	(b 3, lb 6, w 12, nb 7) 	28
    Total 	(8 wickets dec; 85.4 overs) 	367 

Did not bat: S Mujaji

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Mawoyo), 2-102 (Marumisa), 3-116 (Utseya),
4-122 (Maruma), 5-184 (Matsikenyeri), 6-219 (Matsika),
7-292 (H Masakadza), 8-298 (S Masakadza)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ
T Muzarabani 	15 	2 	53 	2 	3.53 	(2nb, 6w)
MT Chinouya 	14.4 	1 	74 	0 	5.04 	(2w)
B Mugochi 	26 	5 	89 	3 	3.42
R Nyathi 	12 	0 	53 	1 	4.41 	(1nb)
J Matigonda 	10 	2 	62 	1 	6.20 	(4nb, 3w)
M Waller 	8 	1 	27 	0 	3.37 	

Centrals 2nd innings (target: 493 runs)
T Mahlunge 	run out (Mujaji) 	        17
BM Chapungu 	c Maruma b S Masakadza 	        20
T Muzarabani 	lbw b Musoso 	                8
M Waller 	c Mawoyo b S Masakadza 	        4
E Chauluka 	b Musoso 	                30
I Chikunya 	c Mutizwa b S Masakadza 	0
R Nyathi 	c Matsikenyeri b Musoso 	4
SF Mire 	st Mutizwa b Mujaji 	        7
MT Chinouya 	c Mutizwa b Musoso 	        0
J Matigonda 	c Mutizwa b Musoso 	        2
B Mugochi 	not out 	                6
    Extras 	(lb 3, w 1, nb 5) 	        9
    Total 	(all out; 34.3 overs) 	        107 

Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Chapungu), 2-52 (Mahlunge), 3-52 (Muzarabani),
4-78 (Waller), 5-82 (Chauluka), 6-86 (Chikunya), 7-97 (Nyathi),
8-97 (Chinouya), 9-97 (Mire), 10-107 (Matigonda, 34.3 ov)

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ
S Masakadza 	11 	5 	31 	3 	2.81 	(2nb)
S Mujaji 	4 	1 	13 	1 	3.25 	(1w)
S Musoso 	11.3 	3 	43 	5 	3.73 	(3nb)
P Utseya 	5 	2 	9 	0 	1.80
T Maruma 	3 	0 	8 	0 	2.66