adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
LOGAN Cup defending champions Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise have given up on retaining the title with their coach Wayne James saying they are on a “rebuilding phase.”
The Bulawayo-based side which won the last three consecutive First-class titles has found the going tough in the 2013-14 season having lost a number of their seasoned cricketers.
Matabeleland Tuskers play host to log leaders Mashonaland Eagles in a four-dayer that starts today at Queens Sports Club.
“We lost a number of our seasoned players and that has been a setback for us but we mustn’t despair because what we are doing is to lay a foundation. We are not thinking about the championship because we have a relatively weak side, made up of rookies who are still trying to cut their teeth in top class cricket. In a year or two, we will be reaping rewards from this squad that we have,” said James.
Matabeleland Tuskers have in the last year lost the services of Charles Coventry, Glenn Querl, Keegan Meth, Sean Ervine and his brother Craig and Gavin Ewing.
Rookies that James has been giving game time are Milton High School pupil Bruce Tshuma, Nkosana Mpofu and Kelvin Kandala.
He has also been including fringe players Thabo Mboyi, Goodwill Mamhiyo, Tony Mupariwa, Bonaparte Mujuru and promising opening batsman Brian Chari who scored his first career century in Kwekwe last week.
Chari is the leading run scorer in the country’s premier first class cricket competition with 261 runs, scored at an average of 43,5.
Matabeleland Tuskers go into today’s match smarting from an 86-run defeat against MidWest Rhinos in Kwekwe last week.
Against Rhinos, Matabeleland Tuskers were yet again left to rue a shambolic batting display as they remained winless in a competition they have won for the past three seasons.
The Bulawayo club will bank on off-spinner John Nyumbu who is having a fine bowling display, finishing up with nine wickets in the match against Rhinos but his efforts went to waste. Nyumbu is the highest wicket taker in the Logan Cup so far with 16 wickets.
With Matabeleland Tuskers’ skipper Sean Williams on national duty in Bangladesh and Christopher Mpofu ruled out due to injury, Nyumbu and Keith Dabengwa are expected to lead their team against Eagles who are yet to lose a game this season.
Eagles will miss Sikandar Raza, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya and Brian Vitori who are in Bangladesh with the national team. They will have experienced Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Chamu Chibhabha and Mark Vermeulen leading them against defending Logan Cup champions.
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