adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Tuskers will be seeking better returns from their batsmen to pull a shocker against Pro50 Championship table toppers Mashonaland Eagles at Queens Sports Club today.
Tuskers are already out of the title race following a disappointing season that saw them winning two matches from five outings.
Coach Wayne James said batting had been a big letdown this season and hoped his batsmen will reinvent themselves against the rampant Eagles. Tuskers lost the first leg played in Harare on November 23 by four wickets.
The Bulawayo side set a target of 227 runs, which their opponents easily overhauled.
Eagles will be without national team players Chamu Chibhabha and Sikandar Raza Butt, who are in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the series against Afghanistan and James feels his boys could exploit the pair’s absence.
“I think this game against Eagles will be an evenly balanced contest considering that some of their players are with the national team. What we want is to start the new year on a good note and since we are out of the title race, I expect the guys to be easy and enjoy their cricket. We’ve bowled flat out this season but our batting performance hasn’t been up to scratch,” said James.
Tuskers’ batting line-up is lead by top order batsmen Brian Chari and Godwill Mamhiyo, who are knocking on the national team’s door. They also have in their ranks Bornaparte Mujuru, Mbekezeli Mabuza and Keith Dabengwa.
James said he would be happy if his batsmen turned their 30 to 40 runs into big scores like 60 to a century.
Besides Mujuru, Chari and Mamhiyo, Tuskers’ hopes will also be pinned on seamer Tawanda Mupariwa, John Nyumbu, Kyle Bowie, Steve Chimhamhiwa and Nkosana Mpofu.
Without their national team players, Eagles will look up to Nathan Waller, Joylord Gumbie, Tafadzwa Muzarawetu and Herbert Chikomba to complete the double over Tuskers.
P W L Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against
Mashonaland Eagles 5 4 0 0 1 20 +0.969 921/179.2 825/198.0
Mountaineers 5 3 1 0 1 15 +0.816 821/200.0 603/183.2
Matabeleland Tuskers 5 2 3 0 0 8 -0.819 913/246.4 1112/246.0
Mid West Rhinos 5 0 5 0 0 0 -0.487 1132/250.0 1247/248.4
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