Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SOUTHERN Rocks are standing on the verge of notching up a rare domestic double when they face defending champions Mega Market Mountaineers in the final of the Pro50 Championship at Masvingo Sports Club today.
Leading the charge, on their own turf and in front of home fans, is their experienced skipper Roy Kaia, a veteran of many domestic cricket finals with three Pro50 titles.
In the spirit of promoting the game, entrance is free.
Rocks, who won their only Pro50 title exactly 15 years ago, have been on top of their game.
The Masvingo-based outfit only last week clinched the Logan Cup after the competition decider against Eagles ended in a draw at Harare Sports Club.
They go into the final of the one-day competition after having topped the Pro50 Championship table with 12 points, just one above Mountaineers.
Kaia said the team is focused.
“Before the start of this we set goals as a team and we managed to accomplish our assignment as a team.
“We are not taking this game lightly, but we need to bring our A-game.
“We are not focusing on them but we need to focus more in our changing room. I believe and am sure everyone wants to win this trophy,” said Kaia.
Together with his brother Innocent, Matthew Campbell, Panashe Taruvinga and Johnathan Campbell, Rocks have their core in the batting.
Overseas player Jalat Khan, who grabbed 22 wickets in five innings, has also been instrumental and is again expected to play key role today.
Rocks finished the group games top of the table with six wins and two defeats.
But they will need to bounce back from a recent slump that saw them incur the back-to-back losses in their last two Pro50 Championship matches against Mountaineers two weeks ago and Eagles last Saturday.
Rocks suffered a 77-runs defeat to Mountaineers on March 24 after they were bowled our for 122 runs in 29.1 overs.
“Remember when we met them during the season we changed few players, but now we brought everyone back,” said Kaia.
For the past 15 years of on-and-off cricket, the Domestic Pro50 Championship title has always eluded them.
“If it goes well, this could be my fourth Pro50 title. These titles won’t come easily you have to work for them to lift them,” said Kaia.
Rocks, who won their only Pro50 title in the 2010-11 season, have traversed a unique pathway in domestic cricket.
The franchise was officially disbanded in 2014 following a restructuring by Zimbabwe Cricket aimed at reducing costs and streamlining domestic competitions.
The Masvingo-based side, deemed financially unsustainable, was cut from the top-tier competition at that time.
But after six years away, Rocks returned to top-tier action in 2020-21 and won the Logan Cup.
They also reached the Pro50 Championship final the same year and the following season, losing to Rhinos and Mountaineers respectively.
But they should not expect an easy game against the defending champions.
It ended all square in the group games, with each side winning once.
But Mountaineers have been more consistent of late, with five wins on the trot.
Earlier in the season, they lost two games and had one affected by the weather, to finish second on the log after the round robin matches.
Mountaineers coach Stuart Matsikenyeri believes his side has built so much momentum that the final comes at the right moment.
“We did not have the best starts to the season.
“We had a couple games affected by the weather, and we did not play the best of cricket.
“Our batters did not give their bowlers enough runs to defend in certain games, and we struggled a bit,” Matsikenyeri told Zimpapers Sports Hub earlier in the week.
The Eastern Highlands side has been in terrific form, winning their previous five one-day games in a row, including the victory over Rocks last week.
But ahead of the final, he believes his boys have adjusted well.
“The boys already have a lot of cricket in them and don’t really need that much work.
“They also know what is at stake, as Mountaineers are a big team. Everyone knows the roles and what is expected of them,” he said.
Top performers for Mountaineers this season included Ronak Patel, Timycen Maruma, Alistair Frost. Much is also expected from their bowlers Michael Frost, Vincent Masekesa and former Zimbabwe international Tendai Chatara.
