Eagles soar, Rocks crumble

Don Makanyanga

Sports Reporter

FOLLOWING a largely disappointing season last year, Eagles will end this year on a high after managing a remarkable turnaround of fortunes in their Logan Cup cricket campaign.

Last year, Eagles finished second from the bottom.

However, as they head into the Christmas break, they will be flying high, having raised their game to occupy the top spot, after the first round of matches in the 2022-2023 First Class season.

Eagles sit at the top with 89 points, having won three of their four matches and drawing one.

They started their campaign with a date against Southern Rocks, cruising to a 101-run victory, before recording a nine-wicket victory over Midlands-based franchise Rhinos.

A draw with second-placed Mega Mountaineers along the way halted their 100 percent record.

The Harare franchise, however, soon returned to winning ways, when recording their biggest victory of the season after cruising to an innings and 33-run win over Tuskers.

Eagles also enjoy a huge points difference over Mega Mountaineers, who have so far managed 49 points in three matches.

Despite being tied with Tuskers on 49 points, Mega Mountaineers have a better quotient, after registering a 305-run win over Southern Rocks.

Mountaineers were pegged back by a 25-run defeat by Rhinos.

Tuskers sit in third place with 49 points, having won two of their matches against Rhinos and Southern Rocks.

That was before Eagles handed them their biggest loss so far.

Rhinos sit second from the bottom with 37 points, after recording a single victory and losing two matches from their three matches in the first round.

But the biggest surprise of the season has been the slump in form by Masvingo-based franchise Southern Rocks, who anchor the standings with 27 points and are still to taste a win.

Despite being rock-bottom, Southern Rocks coach Stanley Chioza has refused to press the panic button.

“Strong squad or not, at the end of the day, a squad is judged by the performance that they put on the field, and we have not done that.

“We are a strong team on paper. There is no doubt about that, but being the strongest team on paper does not directly translate into results,” said Chioza.

With the Logan Cup taking a break and expected to return next month, Chioza has rallied his charges to return from Christmas fully recharged.

“It is still up to you to go out there and do the business; play hard, do the basics well and put up a performance that is worthy of you getting the desired result.

“We have not done that this season, stretching from the Pro50 games and now into the Logan Cup.

“We have not played that good brand of cricket that allows you to get into winning positions,” he said.

However, Chioza believes his men have what it takes to resuscitate their campaign, and keep a positive mind.”

“The only way we are going to redeem ourselves is to play the brand of cricket that gets results, and the ability in the team has to show.

“Above all, our guys need to stay positive. “The ability is there, but what is only needed is to play the best brand of cricket,’’ said Chioza.