Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ABSENCE of three senior players saw Tuskers suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of their rivals Eagles in the Logan Cup first class cricket competition at Old Hararians.
Tuskers missed three of their senior players, captain Brian Chari, Sean Williams and Ainsley Ndlovu who all form the core of the side. The Bulawayo side lost by an innings and 33 runs against old rivals Eagles, their first defeat in the country’s premier first class cricket competition.
The absence of the three integral members of Walter Chawaguta’s side were all due to serious commitments which fell at the same time that the match was scheduled, which saw them being unavailable.
Chari was the best man at his friend’s wedding, Williams had a family bereavement in South Africa and Ainsley Ndlovu had a memorial service for his late mother.
“It’s unfortunate it all just happened at the same time,” said Tuskers general-manager Nicholas Singo.
Across the two innings, Tuskers failed to close down the 269 deficit from Eagles’ first innings which is evident of how their senior players left a huge gap in the team.
In the first innings, the defending champions were bowled out for 98 runs and in the second innings, after being asked to follow on, they managed to score 165 runs all out, their most notable individual contribution with the bat being a fighting 52 runs from all-rounder Luke Jongwe.
Stand-in coach, Thabo Mboyi who took charge of the match due to Chawaguta’s absenteeism said it was unfortunate that their senior players missed out due to different circumstances but the defeat cannot be put on their absence but is happy with the fight that the players present put up. He also added that the mood in the Tuskers camp did not change after the heavy defeat.
“It’s unfortunate that the senior guys were not there due to different circumstances like funerals but the players fought hard, at the end of the day you win some and lose some. The mood in camp did not change, as a sportsman you should be prepared to lose, however, with the experience they have, they took it like soldiers,” said Mboyi.
With the perfect start of two consecutive wins and also playing a double legged fixture and their next game expected to be played at Queens Sports Club, Mboyi said they are still in it and playing in front of their home fans will be an advantage to the team.
Tuskers are expected to return to training just after the start of the New Year as they prepare to face Mountaineers.
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