The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
Mountaineers are the 2017-18 Logan Cup Champions after their final match against Rising Stars ended in a draw at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.
Going into their final day, Mountaineers had a second innings lead of 173 but there was no play on the final day due to a wet outfield resulting in the match ending in a draw.
Mountaineers finished on top of the log table with 52 points.
Led by “new boy” Ngoni Mupamba, the draw was enough to ensure they win the cup for the third time.
Mountaineers first won the competition in 2013-14 seasons before winning it again during the 2016-17 seasons under the tutelage of Shepherd Makunura.
Mountaineers’ new boy Ngoni Mupamba was the star of the show with a superb performance in which he scored 158 runs off 260 deliveries in his debut on Monday.
Mupamba hit 23 fours and 3 sixes. His efforts paid off after the Mountaineers emerged victors.
It was Mupamba’s debut delight. He was pleased to help his side to victory.
Mupamba played for Mash Eagles B side in 2010 for three seasons. In 2013, he played T20 in India. He joined Landsdowns in UK in 2014. In 2015, he played for Kislingbury before joining Bexleyheath in 2016. In 2017, he went to New Zealand where he played for Hawera from October to March this year. He later decided to come back home and joined Mountaineers in April.
In an interview with The Post Sports, Mupamba could not hide his joy.
“I am very happy to be part of the winning team. I am also happy that I have contributed to the win. I scored 158 in the first inning but I did not know anything about the records. I was surprised when my coach told me that I had broken the record of the top Logan Cup scores.
“I came into the field of play just to play my normal game, but God had other plans for me. I am so grateful to my coach for giving me such an opportunity to shine. It has given me more confidence,” he said.
Mupamba could not hide his desire to play for the national team
“All I want now is to represent my country. It is one of my dreams. I know it will take a lot of hard work but I am keen to learn and to sacrifice. I also want to up my game,” he said.
Mountaineers coach Shepherd Makunura who guided the team to two consecutive wins was delighted by his team’s performance.
He dedicated the victory to his boys’ hard work.
“It is a good thing for our Mutare fans. I am so happy as a coach for winning two consecutive seasons. I would like to dedicate the win to the boys who have worked very hard for us to be where we are today. We have a very good side which is full of dedicated players. The other thing to make mention of is that we have kept our squad for two seasons and the players know each other well, they click very well,” he said.
