Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND representatives, Eastern Titans, endured a disappointing maiden National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast campaign, but coach, Donald Tiripano remains convinced the lessons learnt will lay the foundation for a much stronger challenge next season.
The Titans bowed out of the competition after managing just one win from six matches, a return that left them rooted outside the race for the semi-finals.
Their solitary victory came against Takashinga Cricket Club, while a rain-affected encounter against Old Hararians was abandoned, resulting in the teams sharing points. Defeats to Mbizo, Rimuka, Queens and Gladiators ultimately sealed their fate.
Even before their final league fixture against Sogo Rangers under floodlights on Wednesday evening, the Manicaland side had already been eliminated from contention for a place in the last four.
The fifth edition of the NPL T20 Blast got underway in Harare last week, featuring eight teams battling for honours across 32 matches at Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club.
The tournament also attracted an international flavour, with players from Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania boosting the quality and competitiveness of the competition.
Speaking to Post Sport, former Zimbabwe international cricketer, Tiripano, admitted his side had fallen short of expectations, particularly in the batting department, but insisted the experience would prove invaluable for the team’s long-term development.
In an interview with Post Sport on Wednesday, former Zimbabwe international and Eastern Titans coach, Donald Tiripano, bemoaned the lethargic performance of his team, but was quick to note that the competition was a learning curve.
“It is not the kind of performance or campaign we would have loved to have. I thought we struggled in this tournament especially with the bat and partly with the ball.
“There were some scenarios we could have easily done better and come out tops, but I thought this is a learning curve for the boys. I think we have learnt some very, very painful scenarios.
“Sometimes it is very good to fall heavily because it will teach you to become better cricketers. We are out of the competition, and there is nothing much we can do about it, but to take the lessons and make sure when we come back next season we will do better.
“I think in terms of our squad, we can do better as well, and also beef up so that we can have a bit of some balance in the squad. It is a good experience for the guys to play in this tournament first season. I believe when we come next season we will do a lot better,” said Tirpano.
The league phase featured four matches each day, with Harare Sports Club also hosting night games as teams navigate a tightly packed schedule.
In one of the matches that they played, Sheldon Mugari hit 24 runs off five balls in the final over as Mbizo beat Eastern Titans by three wickets at Takashinga Cricket Club last Sunday to register Mbizo’s first win of the tournament.
The result was Mbizo’s first win after three defeats and Eastern Titans’ second loss of the competition.
In another encounter, Gladiators Cricket Club crushed Eastern Titans by 10 wickets after Lennox Chando and Naison Mare chased down 144 without being separated in their NPL T20 Blast match at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
Chando who was named player of the Match B, struck an unbeaten 83 from 55 balls, including 11 fours and one six, while Mare finished on 46 not out from 37 deliveries.
Eastern Titans had elected to bat and reached 40 for one during the powerplay, with Takudzwa Nyamugure providing their quickest scoring.
Nyamugure hit three fours and two sixes in his 27 from 16 balls before Owen Muzondo bowled him with the score on 29.
Spencer Magodo made 11 before Victor Nyauchi trapped him leg before wicket. Laksh Bakraina then removed Oscar Manishimwe for nine in the same fashion, leaving the Titans on 67 for three after nine overs.
Tairo Makauyo scored 24 from 33 balls, but struggled to lift the tempo.
His dismissal to Muzondo at 86 for four exposed a middle order that failed to build a substantial partnership.
Captain, Definate Mawadzi, contributed 16 and Kudzai Sauramba made 19, but regular wickets restricted the Titans to 143 for nine.
Nyauchi led the Gladiators attack with three for 26 from four overs. Munashe Zata took two for 23, Muzondo claimed two for 27 and Bakraina finished with one for 27.
The chase quickly became one sided.
Chando and Mare took Gladiators to 50 in four overs and 57 without loss at the end of the powerplay.
Chando completed his half century from 31 balls, having struck seven fours and one six. The opening pair brought up their 100 run partnership from 65 deliveries before finishing the contest in 15.2 overs.
Eastern Titans compounded their problems by conceding 16 wides as Gladiators reached 146 without loss with 28 balls remaining.
Eastern Titans take away the lessons
