adminwhen Matabeleland Tuskers take on Mashonaland Eagles in what promises to be a mouthwatering Pro-50 One-Day Cup final at Queens Sports Club.
Matabeleland Tuskers will be playing in their first final of the limited overs since the start of franchise cricket in 2009.
Mashonaland Eagles are the defending champions but the Bulawayo side go into tomorrow’s final as favourites following their last victory over the Harare club.
Matabeleland Tuskers beat the defending champions by seven wickets with 104 balls remaining at Queens Sports Club last week.
In that game, Sean Ervine’s all-round efforts set up Matabeleland Tuskers’ comfortable seven-wicket win over Mashonaland Eagles. Ervine, after taking three middle-order wickets to break Eagles’ back, top-scored for his side with 45 to help overhaul the target with more than 17 overs to spare.
Eagles got off to a shaky start, and were reduced to six for two by the seventh over. Although Stuart Matsikenyeri rebuilt the innings through partnerships with Nathan Waller and Sikandar Raza worth 46 and 39 respectively, they lost seven wickets for 66 runs, sparked by Sean Ervine’s three-for.
Tuskers were always in control of their chase as Ervine and Craig Ervine, who scored an aggressive unbeaten 42, steered their side to the win, which consolidated Tuskers’ position at the top of the table.
Matabeleland Tuskers captain Ewing said they are ready for the final.
“This is a different game altogether and we expect Eagles to come at us because last time we beat them. They (Eagles) have a good side and when we beat them they were not at their best and I’m sure the final will be interesting because we also want to win.
“Like I always say, we just have to stick to the basics like we have always done and play simple but interesting cricket. We have to avoid mistakes because a in One-Day game they can cost you unlike in the Four-dayer (Logan Cup) where you have time to recover from mistakes. We are very much ready for the final and everyone is raring to go,” said Ewing.
The Tuskers skipper is hopefully that since they are are playing at home, in front of their fans, they will easily roll past the Eagles.
Another plus for Tuskers is that Eagles will be without Elton Chigumbura who left the country for Bangladesh Premier League on Wednesday alongside national team captain Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza.
Eagles still have a number of players in their line-up who can cause a major upset.
Some of their key players include national team spin bowlers Prosper Utseya and Raymond Price.
They also have top-order batsman Matsikenyeri, hard-hitting Raza, Waller and Forster Mutizwa who can carry the day for them.
On the other hand, Tuskers are likely to bank on Ewing, Terrence Duffin, Graig Ervine, Sean Williams and Keith Dabengwa who have been good with the bat.
Matabeleland Tuskers’ strength has been in bowling where they have national team seamer Christopher Mpofu, Glen Querl, Njabulo Ncube, John Nyumbu, Ewing, Keegan Meth and Dabengwa.
Online Reporter