A look at Logan Cup season’s great performers

TWO months after the crowning of the champions of the country’s premier First-Class cricket competition, Logan Cup, we take a look at some of the players who stood out and put-up brilliant performances throughout the season.

Eagles were officially crowned champions in May having won the league in February. The capital city-based franchise side received their trophy at a ceremony that was held at Harare Sports Club. Despite Eagles dethroning Tuskers, there were a good number of players from all the five franchise sides.

Mega Market Mountaineers proved a challenge to Eagles’ title charge and one of their batters, Ben Compton was key to their title hopes. The Englishman was the league’s top leading run scorer with 714 runs from nine innings at an average of 79,33. On his way to topping the batting charts, Compton scored a career best First-Class score of 217 runs off 256 balls which came against Southern Rocks in the second innings of that match.

On the batting charts, the 29-year-old was followed by Richmond Mutumbami who scored 595 runs at 45,77 in 14 innings. Southern Rocks’ wicket-keeper batter’s campaign saw him score a brilliant 137 runs off 244 deliveries which came against Rhinos. To complete the batting charts’ top three, Tuskers’ opener, Nkosana Mpofu had another good campaign with the bat. Stunner, as Mpofu is affectionately known, finished with 469 runs in 15 overs at 33,50.

He had a high score of 122 runs off 91 balls which came in a match against Rhinos. He also managed to score two half centuries.

Mountaineers’ Tony Munyonga and Rhinos’ Antum Naqvi finished in positions four and five with 391 and 379 runs respectively. Munyonga had eight innings and an average of 55,86 while Naqvi played five innings with an average of 94,75.

The leg-spinning duo of Tapiwa Mufudza (Eagles) and Brandon Mavuta (Rhinos) led from the front with ball in hand. They both finished with impressive figures of 29 wickets, however, Mufudza (number one) had 14 innings while Mavuta played two less, with 12. Mufudza had an impressive average of 26,55 while Mavuta had an average of 30,14.

Spinners dominated the bowling charts. Southern Rocks’ 22-year-old leg spinner, Priviledge Chesa took 26 scalps at an average of 27,85 including best figures of 6/127 which came against Tuskers in January. The only fast bowler in the leaderboard was Eagles’ Faraz Akram who took 23 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 233,48.

The Tuskers skipper, Ainsley Ndlovu made the top five after he scooped 19 wickets at an average of 33,68. Behind the stumps, Tafadzwa Tsiga (Southern Rocks) had the most dismissals with 18 from five matches and eight innings, while Nyasha Mayavo (Rhinos) had 15 dismissals from eight matches and 14 innings.

Cunningham Ncube (Eagles) had 11 dismissals after five innings in four matches while teammate, Tadiwanashe Marumani had 10 dismissals from six innings after playing four matches. Peter Moor completed the top five, also claiming 10 dismissals.

The last edition of the Logan Cup was an interesting competition with competitive cricket being displayed. Eagles won the league after finishing with 122 points while the second placed Mountaineers had 111 points. The dethroned defending champions, Tuskers had 110 points while in third place, Rhinos finished with 93 points. At the bottom of the standings, Southern Rocks had 85 points.

The dates for the new season are yet to be confirmed, however, plenty of cricket will be taking place domestically with the Zim Afro T10 league starting in just over a week and the National Premier League (NPL) likely to follow. — @brandon_malvin