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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Tuskers Cricket Franchise batters will have to come to the party if they are to revive their quest for the Logan Cup and Pro-50 One-Day titles. Matabeleland Tuskers have had a sloppy start to the season, opening their Logan Cup campaign with a draw against Southern Rocks last December followed by a 40-run home defeat to Manicaland Mountaineers and an 86-run loss on the road to Mid-West Rhinos.
Their wins in the tournament were against log leaders Mashonaland Eagles who they beat by 52 runs followed by a wicket victory over Southern Rocks last week.
Matabeleland Tuskers have also been struggling in the Pro-50 One day game where they have managed two wins from their five outings.
The Bulawayo-based club’s victories were against Manicaland Mountaineers who they beat by 10 runs in December and last week’s four wicket triumph with 24 balls remaining against Mashonaland Eagles.
It is Sunday’s 33 runs defeat against Southern Rocks at Queens Sports Club that irks Matabeleland Tuskers coach Wayne James but he remains hopeful that they can reach dizzy heights if they improve on their batting.
“We have a potential of doing better but our main concern right now is on our batting attack which has not been great. If our batsmen come to the party, I believe we can win matches. In all the matches which we have played, batting let us down. I have spoken on numerous times about the need to have four or five of our top order to fire in all the matches but it’s disappointing to just leave everything to one person and it puts the team in a bad corner.
“Batting is something that we will continue working on ahead of our April 4 away trip to Mutare where we will face Manicaland Mountaineers,” said James.
He believes the return of captain Sean Williams who was with the national team in Bangladesh for the ICC World Cup tournament will inject a new lease of life to his batting line up.
“Ours is more of a young, inexperienced squad which is showing some positives. The return of Sean will no doubt add stability to our batting line up. We are looking forward to an improved outing in Mutare”.
Williams is expected to lead Matabeleland Tuskers’ bowling attack which has Brian Chari, Keith Dabengwa, young Nkosana Mpofu, Bonaparte Mujuru and Goodwill Mamhiyo who got 70 runs during their defeat to Southern Rocks on Sunday.
As always, James commended the bowlers for doing a great job.
“The bowlers have been fantastic and right now they only need the batting attack to complement their efforts. It’s not that we do not have good batsmen, I think our biggest undoing has been making mistakes when batting.”
Spinner John Nyumbu, seamer Tawanda Mupariwa, Thabo Mboyo and Dabengwa lead Matabeleland Tuskers’ bowling attack.
Online Reporter