adminTuskers plays host to Mountaineers in the four-dayer from Tuesday next week to 2 November.
Tuskers are the defending Castle Logan Cup champions but have not had a good start in the shorter versions of the game, that is the Pro-50 One-Day and the Twenty20.
Tuskers have had a sloppy start to the season, losing by seven wickets against Manicaland Mountaineers in their first One-Day game of the season and also lost five runs in the Twenty20 game to the same side.
Tuskers beat Southern Rocks in the Pro-50 One-Day game by nine runs.
They lost by four wickets in a Twenty20 match against Southern Rocks.
Tuskers also lost both their games away to Mashonaland Eagles.
The Bulawayo side finally got it right at the weekend when they got a bonus point for their 132-runs win against Rhinos where skipper Graig Ervine scored an unbeaten 106 runs which powered Tuskers to 294 runs.
Brian Chari scored 63-runs in that win and Tuskers’ assistant coach Pollock Mubhobho said they can reach greater heights if they improve on their batting.
“We have always said that once our batsmen are in good form and stay at the crease for sometime, then we can get positive results. Our bowlers are fine but we were being let down by batsmen.
Fortunately, against table-toppers (Rhinos), the guys did a splendid job with the bat and we hope they continue with that when we head for Castle Logan Cup,” said Mubhobho.
He said Tuskers’ players are stronger on the longer version and was confident that they will defend their title.
“It is going to be difficult for us because every team we play wants to beat Tuskers because we are the defending champions. The good thing is that our squad understands that we are the team to beat and this means that some teams will come here to attack and that will present us an opportunity to play good cricket,” said Mubhobho.
Some of the seasoned players to lead Tuskers’ quest for a third consecutive Castle Logan Cup title include Terrence Duffin, Keegan Meth, Ervine, Chari, all-rounders John Nyumbu and Thabo Mboyi.
They also have national team pace bowler Christopher Mpofu in their camp to bank on.
There is fierce competition for places in the team especially in bowling where there is Glen Querl, Mboyi, Nyumbu, seamer Njabulo Ncube, Mpofu and Meth.
“Competition is always good for the squad as it keeps players in top form. The guys are working hard because they want to be part of the winning team,” said Mubhobho.
Online Reporter