ALEX Falao's four wickets from a 30-ball onslaught gave Eagles an edge on day four of the Logan Cup match before bad light intervened with Southern Rocks on 32/6 in 15 overs and trailing by 65 runs at Harare Sports Club.
The host, Eagles declared on 442/6d with a lead of 97 buoyed by centurions Wesley Madhevere (110 not out) and Craig Ervine who scored 132. Eagles captain Tinashe Kamunhukamwe weighed in with half century, 72, while Kudzai Maunze and Dion Myers scored 36 and 25 respectively in response to Rocks' 325 all out in 100 overs after being put to bat first.
With a draw written all over the script, Eagles sent Rocks back to bat for their second innings with just over a full session overs remaining in the day.
Seamer Falao tore through Rocks' top order with sheer precision and ingenuity. First to depart was opener Innocent Kaia, trapped plum by Falao on the penultimate ball of the first over of the second innings.
Falao was back with his second wicket on the third ball of his second over when he had Ryan Higgins (5) caught behind by wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani.
Rocks' first innings centurion Matthew Campbell was out for three runs on Falao's last ball of the second over, caught behind by Marumani to leave the Masvingo-based side reeling on 17/3 after three overs.
Johnathan Campbell was bowled by first innings five-wicket haul hero Alex Russell for 13 runs to leave Rocks on 27/4 after 5.2 overs before Falao claimed his fourth scalp. Panashe Taruvinga became Falao's fourth victim, caught behind by a diving Marumani for a five-ball duck.
Seasoned campaigner Roy Kaia entered the fray and tried to rebuild the innings with Tafadzwa Tsiga. The two batted for time with some injury-inspired breaks helping take the momentum off the high-flying Eagles. Kaia was down three times, Tsiga once but Eagles had their way around him as Russell had him out for an LBW. Rocks were six wickets down for 32 runs after 15 overs when the match was delayed by bad light. Kaia scored two from 28, Tsiga was unbeaten on two from 28, with skipper Richmond Mutumbami not getting an opportunity to face a delivery as the match was subsequently called off ending in a draw.
Rocks lost the toss on the second day after day one was washed out. The visitors scored 325 all out with Matthew Campbell top scoring with 122. Roy Kaia scored 44,William Mashinge 36 and Johnathan Campbell 32 while Russell picked five for 90 in 30 overs and Wallace Mubayiwa picking three wickets for 73 runs from 26 overs for the Eagles.