adminHarare Sports Club with Mashonaland Eagles starting their title defence with a tricky date against Matabeleland Tuskers this afternoon.
The tournament roars into life this morning with MidWest Rhinos opening the show against Mutare side Mountaineers at 10am.
The old scoreboard on the south-east of the ground has welcomed the arrival of a huge screen for replays to the crowd while the corporate tents have been moved close to the Chairman’s Enclosure.
Garden tables have also been added to the bunker with two huge terraces added on each side of the bunker on the eastern side of the ground in a move that is expected to see the ground accommodate more fans.
The 10-day tournament will reach the knock out stage next Friday with the final set for Sunday, November 4, and all the games will be played at the Harare Sports Club.
Eagles won the previous edition of the tournament in style after player/coach Andrew Hall bowled a big last over to beat MidWest Rhinos by just one run.
Rhinos needed seven runs to win the final but were restricted to 166/6.
The Eagles have been in every final of the tournament as they lost to Mountaineers in the inaugural edition of the event but they managed to lift their game to grab the title in the second edition.
Now they are out to defend their title and if they do so they will become the first side to retain the championship.
Captain Stuart Matsikenyeri is confident his side would be able to retain the championship.
Matsikenyeri has a huge task of leading his side as it is his first season with the Harare side having crossed floors from Southern Rocks.
The Eagles seem to have a pretty much balanced side in batting and they also have some of the top names in bowling.
Sikandar Butt, Regis Chakabva, Kyle Jarvis, Raymond Price, Elton Chigumbura and Netherlands all-rounder Ryan Ten Doeschate are all Eagles.
But Tuskers have the biggest name in the tournament as they managed to get the signature of former West Indies captain Chris Gayle.
Gayle’s star status, and explosive style of batting, is likely to bring the fans to Harare Sports Club for a festival that has always been popular.
An estimated 10 000 fans watched the final last season.
Tuskers also have seamer Glen Querl – who has been on fire in the local league – and claimed 6 for 38 in his debut first class game against Southern Rocks a month ago.
The attack also features Keegan Meth and Njabulo Ncube (who got his debut ODI appearance for the national side against New Zealand last month) and the seasoned Chris Mpofu.
But Gayle has been the talking point.
“Yes I have played a lot more cricket than most of the players in the tournament but we should know that anything can happen in this game as there are some young players who want to make a name for themselves,” said Gayle.
“Obviously I have played with and against some of the guys like Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes at Royal Challengers Bangalore but this will be a different challenge for me altogether.
“I will not underestimate any of the players here because first of all, how we are going to play will be determined by the time, be it in the morning or in the afternoon and if it rains on the day of play.”
Rocks will be the only side out of action today as they have a bye and their first game of the tournament will only be tomorrow afternoon when they take on MidWest Rhinos.
The big rock in the Southern Rocks, Brian Vitori, will make a welcome return to all forms of cricket since suffering injury during the Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe two months ago.
His side has former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu, Chamunorwa Chibhabha and Tafadzwa “Faffy” Kamungozi.
Mountaineers have secured the signature of Australian pace bowler Nannes.
The Australian will be playing cricket in Zimbabwe for the first time and he said he will have to be cautious as he does not know the players he will be playing against. “It’s a challenge walking into a new team environment and playing in these conditions is a challenge so I am coming here with an open mind because I have never been here before.”
Nannes has played in various Twenty20 competitions, such as the IPL, in Australia and England and said each tournament is always different.
“Obviously there are no players here that I have played against before, so it will be a challenge to bowl to people who I have never bowled to before, because I don’t know what their strengths are,” he said.
Fixtures
Today: Rhinos v Mountaineers (10am), Eagles v Tuskers (2pm)
Tomorrow: Mountaineers v Tuskers (10am), Rhinos v Rocks (2pm)
Sunday: Rocks v Tuskers (10am )Mountaineers v Eagles (2pm)
Squads
Matabeleland Tuskers: Paul Horton, Charles Coventry, Chris Mpofu, Njabulo Ncube, Bradley Staddon, Keith Dabengwa, Keegan Meth, Craig Ervine, Steve Trenchard, Gavin Ewing, Glen Querl, Tafadzwa Ngulube, Adam Wheater, Tom Smith, Chris Gayle
Coach: Dave Houghton
Mashonaland Eagles: Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Cephas Zhuwao, Trevor Garwe, Mark Mbofana, Nathan Waller, Kyle Jarvis, Ray Price, Andrew Hall, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Elton Chigumbura, Peter Trego, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Foster Mutizwa, Ryan Ten Doeschate
Coach: Kevin Curran
MidWest Rhinos: Brendan Taylor, Graeme Cremer, Roland Benade, Mike Chinouya, Neville Madziva, Simon Mugava, Richard Muzhange, Ian Nicolson, Remembrance Nyati, Ed Rainsford, Malcolm Waller, Gary Balance, Lou Vincent, Riki Wessels, Shaun Tait
Coach: Jason Gillespie
Mountaineers: Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Prosper Utseya, Shingirai Masakadza, Natsai Mushangwe, Kevin Kasuza, Donald Tiripano, Dirk Nannes, Chris Harris, Phil Mustard, Ned Eckersley, Tendai Chatara, Donald Tiripano, Kudzai Sauramba
Coach: Gary Brent
Southern Rocks: Tatenda Taibu, Brian Vitori, Alester Maregwede, Roy Kaia, Chamu Chibhabha, Prince Masvaure, Richmond Mutumbani, Tinashe Panyangara, Hilary Matanga, Tendai Chisoro, Robertson Chinyengetere, Tanyaradzwa Munyaradzi, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Alex Obanda, John Kent
Coach: Monty Lynch
Online Reporter