Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
TUSKERS remain on top of the 2022/23 Pro50 championship season league standings despite suffering two consecutive defeats at the hands of Mountaineers in Mutare last week.
The Bulawayo based Tuskers, who arrived back in the city yesterday, went into their double fixtures against Mountaineers as favourites having won their first four games. Tuskers in both matches came close but could not cross the finish line.
The two defeats however did not move Tuskers as they remain top of the league standings with 40 points from a possible sixty, 15 points clear of second placed Mountaineers who have 25 points and played two games less.
In third place sits Rhinos with the same number of points as Mountaineers but have an inferior net run rate. Alliance Health Eagles are in position four with 20 points and Southern Rocks are sitting on the bottom of the table with just 10 points.
The struggles to win in Mutare did not affect Tuskers players from being among the league’s best performers with captain Ndlovu being the fourth leading run scorer with 198 runs from six innings and an average of 39,60. The top three with the bat has Cephas Zhuawo (237 runs), Tadiwanashe Marumani (237 runs) and William Mashinge (221 runs).
Ernest Masuku has so far taken the second most wickets with 11 under his name in six innings behind Brandon Mavuta who has taken one more on 12 wickets. Tinashe Muchawaya is in third place with 10 wickets and is followed by a Tuskers duo of Nkosana Mpofu and Sheunopa Musekwa who both have nine wickets each.
Ndlovu believes the defeats came about due to the struggles with the bat as he thinks that they did not score enough runs to bowl at especially in the second match where they batted first. The Tuskers skipper believes they still haven’t played their best cricket yet but is confident they will get the win that will make sure they play in the final.
Head coach, Walter Chawaguta said the team failed to convert key opportunitites presented hence they lost in Mutare. He said he hopes to see the top order taking responsibility and bat for long.
“The problem was losing early wickets in both innings from the start, we actually bowled well in both matches but failed to convert key opportunities presented.
“We have discussed as a batting unit especially at the top about looking to bat long and the fact that our top four has to take responsibility and bat through,” said Chawaguta.
Chawaguta added: “We have discussed batting approach in the first 10 overs with the top three batters and stressed smart shot selection and taking responsibility of seeing off the new ball.”
With Tuskers still on top, the coach said its good enough motivation for his team as they are looking at a spot in the final and that can be guaranteed by a win in their upcoming fixtures against Rhinos.
“We are looking to come right when we play Midwest Rhinos, we need at least one of the two matches to almost guarantee ourselves a spot in the final and that motivates us,” he said.
Next up for Tuskers are back to back fixtures at home against Rhinos on October 28 and 30.— @brandon_malvin
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter