Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TENDAI CHATARA is amongst the longest-serving members at Mega Market Mountaineers.
Together with Timycen Maruma, he is one of the few, who have been with the Manicaland-based franchise from the beginning in 2005.
And in that time, the 35-year-old seamer bowlers has seen his fair share of finals, most of which he has been on the winning side.
However, tomorrow, Chatara and his Mountaineers side face one of their biggest tests when they take on high-riding Southern Rocks in the Pro50 Championship final at Masvingo Sports Club.
The match starts at 9:30am
“Yeah, it’s been a while,” said Chatara.
“I have been involved with Mountaineers from the very beginning, even before I played for the Under-19, and it has been a great ride.
“I don’t actually remember how many finals I have been involved in, or how many titles I have here, but it’s a lot,” he said.
On paper, Southern Rocks head into the final as clear favourites.
They recently clinched the Logan Cup after their championship decider against Eagles ended in a draw, effectively handing them the title.
But that was last week
Now, the Masvingo-based outfit is looking to add the Pro50 Championship.
And they also go into that final as favour.
Innocent Kaia has been the linchpin of the Southern Rocks’ batting line-up in this format, with the top-order batter currently topping charts with 388 runs from seven matches.
He currently has a best of an unbeaten 104 runs.
Matthew Campbell is another star in the Rocks’ line-up and is third on the charts with 261 runs and a best of an unbeaten 65. In the bowling department, Jalat Khan leads the charge both for Rocks with 22 wickets from five matches.
Tafadzwa Tsiga and Panashe Taruvinga have been doing the business out in the field. Tsiga has nine dismissals, two catches, while Taruvinga has six with five of them catches.
Mountaineers coach Stuart Matsikenyeri has gone on record to be a big fan of the Rocks ensemble, which he believes is a nice blend of youth and experience. However, Mountaineers have the pedigree of being tried and tested in finals’ scenarios.
And being defending champions, the Manicaland-based franchise won’t willingly and silently go into the night.
Not without a fight at least and Chatara is amongst those Matsikenyeri will be looking to provide leadership and a bank.
It is a responsibility that the former Zimbabwe international wears like a badge of honour.
“We had a two-day camp here in Mutare, which ended today (yesterday), and the team is looking good,” he said.
“It was very productive, and I had a few chats with some of the younger lads like Tatenda Chimugoro and Prosper Mugeri.
“Chimugoro was recently with the Zimbabwe Under-19 team at the World Cup.
“I was just trying to help prepare them for the final.
“As one of the senior players, a lot is expected of him, and I have been doing my best to help and lend some of my wisdom and experience.
“We leave for Masvingo on Friday (today), and we are looking forward to the final,” he said.
Chatara has been having an average season by his standards, with the 35-year-old currently ranked seventh on the most wickets charts with 10 scalps from eight matches.
He will, however, be counted on to help slow left-arm orthodox bowler Michael Frost, who is second on the charts with 16 wickets from seven matches. Maruma, another long-serving member of the team, is seventh on the top run scorers charts with 226 runs from eight matches and a best of an unbeaten 60.
In the field, the duo of Spencer Magodo and Maruma will be looked at to aid the bowlers. The two have six and five dismissals, respectively, and are ranked seventh and eighth on the charts.
“Yeah, Southern Rocks have been playing some good cricket this season,” he said. “However, we are the defending champions we intend to give it a good go. Rocks also have the liberty of playing at home, which should give them a slight edge as the Masvingo community could very much come out in their numbers.
However, Chatara is not worried as he considers Masvingo Sports Club a second home. In fact, familiarity with both the venue and the Rocks ensemble is something that Chatara believes puts the two teams on equal standing.
