The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
THE four-day Logan Cup competition for the 2017-18 season got underway yesterday (Thursday) with the reigning champions Mountaineers taking on Mid West Rhinos at Mutare Sports Club.
The first class competition had been put on hold to pave way for the World Cup qualifiers in March.
Mountaineers had gone for six games unbeaten – winning four games and drawing twice. Mountaineers are currently leading the five team log with 48 points. Mashonaland Eagles are second with 42 points while Matabeleland Tuskers lie third with 29 points. Mid West Rhinos are fourth on the log with 17 points and rooted at the bottom is the newly formed Rising Stars which has amassed 16 points. Mountaineers are firm favourites to retain the Logan Cup.
Despite losing some experienced players to England domestic cricket league, Mountaineers gave a good account of themselves after putting a superb performance in a Pro50 One Day game played against a depleted Mid West Rhinos on Tuesday at Mutare Sports Club.
Mountaineers won the match by 104 runs.
National team player Hamilton Masakadza’s 61 runs helped the “Mountain Boys” reach 226 in 47.4 overs. Chasing a target of 227, Mid West Rhinos were bowled out for 122 with Natsai Mushangwe taking three wickets.
Mid West Rhinos were missing the services of Zimbabwe captain Graham Cremer who is undergoing a knee operation, Kyle Jarvis and Brendon Taylor (both injured), Peter Moor, Malcolm Waller (both left for Singapore Twenty-Twenty games) and Bruce James who pulled out on the last minute for undisclosed reasons.
Speculation was rife that the players were protesting against the sacking of former coach Heath Streak on allegations of racism.
Mountaineers coach Shepherd Makunura praised his boys for a job well-done. He said the break affected his players and bemoarned losing some of his best assets – Shingi Masakadza, Timycen Maruma, Roy Kaia, Vusi Sibanda and Foster Mutizwa – to the England domestic league.
“It is good to come back and get a win after three months break. My boys played very well and hopefully they carry the momentum when we play in the Logan Cup which stretches to Sunday. As for the break, it is more of starting all over again. The break really affected our momentum. Five of our players have gone to play domestic cricket in England. We are hopeful that the boys will pull through and win the cup again. We also welcome our captain Tino Mawoyo back and this is his second game,” he said.
