Mountaineers, Rhinos in MetBank semi-finals

finalists Mid West Rhinos welcome back their players who returned from the ICC World Cup tour of duty for the semi-finals of the MetBank Pro-40 Championships.
The two clubs’ World Cup players will immediately get down to serious business when they feature for their respective teams at Harare Sports Club today.
Mountaineers coach Gary Brent yesterday said his club would field its best XI as they hope to cap a fine season with silverware.
The Manicaland franchise, who are also the holders of the limited overs title, finished top of the table and were the first team to book their place in the last four.
The club will also consider adding firepower with their bowling trio of Prosper Utseya, Tinashe Panyangara and Shingi Masakadza who returned from national team duty in Sri Lanka and India this week.
“Our performance has been fantastic this season but this is a knockout game between two very good sides in the domestic championships.
It’s a game in which we cannot have the luxury to lose,” said Brent.
“Rhinos have some big match players in their fold and we will try not to do anything different from what we have been doing the whole season.
“We have our game plan and we will stick to it. Of course we are expecting our players who came back from the World Cup to take part in this event,” he added.
Mountaineers who began their campaign under South African Allan Donald have been dominant this season.
They continued with their form following Brent’s arrival in the latter stages of the season to finish comfortably top of the table with five victories from eight games.
The side will also be hoping to continue their bullying over Rhinos, whom they beat home and away in their two meetings this season.
Mountaineers have a strong mixture of youth and experience with their rookies Natsai Mushangwe, Tendai Chatara and Donald Tiripano expected to play a big part with the ball while upcoming batsmen Gary Chirimuuta and Steve Chimhamhiwa could get a chance alongside their tried and tested colleagues Tino Mawoyo, Jonathan Beukes and Timycen Maruma.
Team captain Hamilton Masakadza, whose experience has helped the team throughout the season, yesterday said he was looking forward to the match.
“In terms of preparation I think we are quite okay because we have been practicing to the best of our ability for the last one week.
We now have to approach this game with a positive mindset because it’s a do-or-die affair.
“We are the team to beat but I think our good performance this season should give us more confidence. We have played with them before and we beat them.
“So we are going out there in the knowledge that we have two games between us and winning the title,” said Masakadza.
His opposite number Vusi Sibanda who was part of the World Cup team as a late replacement for injured Mawoyo is hoping to lead his team to glory this season after missing out in the finals last year.
Rhinos are hoping to resuscitate their bid following a less than average season in which they finished fourth on the table with two wins from eight games.
Sibanda said this game is crucial as it represents the Kwekwe-based outfit’s only hopes for silverware this season after missing the Stanbic Bank title and bowing out of contention in the first class Logan Cup.
“The team has been preparing hard of late and I believe this is going to be a good game for us. We are being positive because the objective is to play our game and win.
“It’s anybody’s game, anyway. Whoever does his job well is likely to come out as the winner,” said Sibanda.
Rhinos will also welcome national team opener Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer who were part of the World Cup team.
Young batsman Gary Ballance has been doing well for the side in the top order and is expected to play another key role. Matabeleland Tuskers and Southern Rocks will meet in another semi-final tomorrow with the final pencilled in for the same venue on Sunday.
Fixtures:
Today: Mountaineers v Mid West Rhinos
Tomorrow: Matabeleland Tuskers v Southern Rocks