LOG leaders Matabeleland Tuskers will face their sternest test so far this season when they clash with rivals MidWest Rhinos in a top-of-the-table Logan Cup cricket match starting this morning. Report by Daniel Nhakaniso
The match takes place at Kwekwe Sports Club.
The four-day game will see national team bowling coach Heath Streak, now the Tuskers coach, come up against former teammate and national team batting coach Grant Flower, now the Rhinos coach.
Reigning champions Tuskers are unbeaten in the four-day format this season with an unscathed record of three wins from as many outings to top the points table with 20.
Last week’s thumping 312-run over Mash Eagles showed why the Bulawayo-based franchise are favourites to capture a third consecutive Logan Cup title after having won the last two editions.
Overseas-based stars Sean Ervine, Glen Querl and Moen Ali, together with seamer Keegan Meth, were instrumental in setting up the comfortable win and will be looked upon to guide Tuskers to another good performance again this week.
However, while recent results would suggest that Tuskers will have it all their way, in reality, it will be a different scenario as Rhinos have been playing well and boast a host of potential match-winners in their side.
The Brendan Taylor-captained side will be eager to make amends for their eight- wicket loss away to Mountaineers last week.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
This was the Kwekwe-based franchise’s first defeat of the season and saw them lose ground to their rivals, as they dropped to second place on the points table with 14 and with one defeat from four matches.
Meanwhile, Southern Rocks’ revival under respected coach Dave Houghton will be severely tested when they take on Mountaineers at Masvingo Sports Club starting today.
Rocks, who last month registered their first-ever Logan Cup win against Eagles, have struggled to reproduce that form in recent matches and will have to be at their best to upstage Mountaineers.
Rocks will, however, bank on their better knowledge of local conditions although on paper Mountaineers have a better side. The two teams currently occupy positions three and four respectively on the points table.
