adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL team players turning out for Matabeleland Tuskers and Mashonaland Eagles are expected to light up the Pro-50 One Day Championship final at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo tomorrow. The two sides meet for the second time within a week following their Tuesday clash which saw Matabeleland Tuskers book a home final after a 74-run victory.
National team duo of Sean Williams who gave a good account of himself at the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as well as seamer Tawanda Mupariwa trained with their Matabeleland Tuskers teammates yesterday.
The Bulawayo based side’s coach Wayne James said his charges are fired-up for the game. They will only be missing Craig Ervine who remained in Australia after Zimbabwe’s exit from the World Cup.
“It’s going to be a good game which will require us to play our usual cricket — field, bat and bowl well. It’s a game that we can’t afford to make mistakes. With the availability of our national team players we are certainly going to make some batting surprises,” James said.
On Tuesday, opening batsman Brian Chari top-scored for the home team with 115 runs off 125 deliveries, despatching 11 fours and two sixes while left hander Nkosana Mpofu was second best with 50 runs as Tuskers, who lost the toss, were sent in to bat posted 279 runs for the loss of five wickets in 50 overs.
Left arm seamer Brian Vitori bowled a fiery spell which saw him pick up three wickets for 39 runs in the 10 overs he sent down as Eagles were bowled out for 205 runs in 43 overs. Off spinner John Nyumbu also took three wickets at the expense of 41 runs in eight overs, one of those overs not costing any run. Nyumbu’s figures were spoiled by two sixes taken off his bowling by last batsman in for Eagles, Tatenda Manatsa.
There was one wicket each for pace bowlers Christopher Mpofu, Luke Jongwe and left arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu.
Christopher showed his experience, getting a wicket in the first over of the Eagles innings when he bowled Cephas Zhuwawo for a two ball duck.
Keith Dabengwa, captain Godwill Mhamiyo and Richmund Mutumbami are some of Matabeleland Tuskers players expected to carry the day for them.
Mashonaland Eagles’ Prosper Utseya, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Regis Chakabva and Sikandar Raza are sure to be in the line up after their tour of national duty in Australia and New Zealand.
“We now know their weaknesses and strengths which should make it an approachable final. We have also been boosted by the arrival of our national team players. Of the six who represented Zimbabwe at the ICC World Cup, only injured Elton Chigumbura and Brendan Taylor will miss the trip to Bulawayo,” said Mashonaland Eagles coach, Mufaro Chiturumani.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Pro-50 One Day final — Matabeleland Tuskers v Mashonaland Eagles (Queens Sports Club)
Table
P W L T N/R Pts Net RR
Mat Tuskers 9 7 2 0 0 31 +0.418
Mash Eagles 9 5 4 0 0 21 +0.105
Mountaineers 9 4 5 0 0 19 +0.278
MidWest Rhinos 9 2 7 0 0 9 -0.581
Online Reporter