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TUSKERS will be hoping to put behind their recent poor show in the Logan Cup first class cricket campaign when they engage in back-to- back Pro50 championship games against Rhinos at Queens Sports Club on Saturday and Sunday.
Under the mentorship of national team bowling coach Douglas Hondo, Tuskers had a terrible Logan Cup — longer version of the game — which saw them finish without even a single win in the country’s premier first class cricket competition.
With just two draws, one no result and three defeats from the six matches they played in the Logan Cup, Tuskers ended at the bottom of the log with just 16 points. A huge defeat, by 223 runs to three times in a row champions Mountaineers at Harare Sports Club last Saturday summed up what has been a pathetic season for the lads from Bulawayo.
Playing all the six matches in Harare did not help Tuskers as they did not get to enjoy playing in familiar conditions in front of their home fans at Queens Sports Club. Logistical challenges saw Tuskers being forced to play all their Logan Cup matches at Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians.
Hondo will certainly be hoping that a change in the format of the game can bring about a transformation in fortunes for Tuskers who take on Rhinos in back- to-back fixtures at Queens Sports Club on Saturday and Sunday. Top order batsman Brian Chari is also expected to take over the captaincy for the shorter version of the game with off spinner John Nyumbu having been the Logan Cup skipper.
National team all-rounder Sean Williams, who was away in the Bangladesh Premier League is available in what should be a boost for Tuskers as they seek a quick turnaround from a disastrous Logan Cup. Tuskers last won the Pro50 Championship in the 2016/17 season when they clobbered Eagles by nine wickets in the final played at Harare Sports Club.
Last season, Tuskers won four of the eight matches they played to finish third in a competition which had five teams. Rising Stars, not part of the domestic cricket structure this season went on to beat Mountaineers by 144 runs in the final.
Having won the Logan Cup for three consecutive seasons, Mountaineers will be looking forward to extend their dominance to the shorter format of the game when they meet Eagles on Saturday and Sunday at Mutare Sports Club.
Their coach, Shepherd Makunura, said the Mutare side wants to use their momentum in the Pro50 Championship.
Their coach, Shepherd Makunura told our sister publication Herald that the Mutare side wants to use their momentum in the Pro50 Championship.
They have also sounded a stern warning to their rivals in the domestic T20 tournament set for next month.
“We play sport to win championships. We have just achieved that this year and the feeling is great. I think we have been consistent for the past three years and we have maintained more or less the same team that we have had in those years. I think there is a good understanding among ourselves and that puts us in a good space. We have got two more tournaments left in the season so we would like to seriously challenge and hopefully win them as well,” said Makunura.
derick.khumalo