Online Reporter
Southern Rocks will walk into the Pro50 Championship final this weekend without Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani.
On paper, that should shake them. It hasn’t.
Head coach Njabulo Ncube isn’t losing sleep. He still believes his side has enough to get over the line and seal a domestic double.
“Blessing (Muzarabani) and Raza are only missing on the pitch,” said Ncube.
“They have been staying in touch with us and chatting and talking with the guys on a daily basis.
“We will miss them in the game but they have been helping the team in their own way.”
The two stars are away on franchise duty, Muzarabani in India with Kolkata Knight Riders after joining as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, while Raza is back in Pakistan with Lahore Qalandars.
Back home, Rocks have had to adjust on the move. They’ve managed it well enough to lift the Logan Cup. Now they are one game away from completing the double.
Standing in their way are Mega Market Mountaineers at Masvingo Sports Club.
Rocks topped the Pro50 table with 12 points from eight matches. Mountaineers finished just a point behind. There’s been little between the two sides all season.
Form coming into the final tells a slightly different story.
Rocks stumbled in their last outing, going down to Mashonaland Eagles by two wickets at Harare Sports Club. Mountaineers edged Rhinos by 11 runs in a tight finish at Takashinga.
Michael Frost’s four-wicket haul proved decisive in that win, helping bowl Rhinos out for 222, just short of the target.
Rocks, meanwhile, had their chances.
Panashe Taruvinga led the way with 95 off 100 balls, an innings built on nine boundaries, with Matthew Campbell adding 65. They posted 273 for seven, a score that looked strong enough.
It wasn’t. Kundai Matigimu picked up three wickets for 58, while Faraz Akram chipped in with two for 32 to keep Eagles in it.
Rodney Mupfudza then anchored the chase with 60 off 81 balls. Ryan Kamwemba and Akram added 46 and 36, respectively, as Eagles got home with 10 balls to spare.
Ncube has already parked that result.
“Eagles played some good cricket and deserved the victory,” he said.
“However, we have already moved on from that game and turned our attention to the final.
“We just have to work on our problem-solving and make sure we get it right on the day.”
The squad isn’t at full strength, but it’s close.
Seamer Derek Sadoki is the only injury concern. Everyone else is available, which leaves Ncube with decisions to make rather than gaps to fill.
That depth could matter now more than ever.
Without Raza’s control and Muzarabani’s fire-power, Rocks will have to spread the load. It won’t be about one or two players. It will be about getting the combinations right.
Ncube knows it.
“Playing at home is a huge advantage,” he said.
“We know the conditions and should have lots of support from the home fans.
“Even our juniors should come out in their numbers.
“In terms of team news, we only have one injury, and that is our seamer Derek Sadoki who is out of the match.
“Fortunately, everyone is raring to go, and it will be about finding the right combinations rather than who is fit.”
Everything now points to Masvingo.
Rocks, without their biggest names, are still within reach of something bigger.
