[Match Thread] Rhinos v Eagles (Logan Cup)

[The Saint]

If Sibanda were to play in the West.Indies where does he bat? I don't see the point in him getting dropped as an opener then having him go back and score mountains of runs at no.4, then having him back opening the batting in the national side. If Zimbabwe see him as an opener that's where he should bat in his domestic team. I'd play him at 4. Kinda answered my own question there didn't i.

P.S I'm baffled why few people on this forum are not aggressively pushing for Mutizwa's inclusion in the side, especially as an opener. He has one of the highest first class averages (if not the highest) of ANY player and has been scoring runs for a while now. I know he failed twice against Bangladesh but isn't he at least deserving of a prolonged run in the side?

[Conant]

Admittedly I am commenting from Australia without seeing the matches in person, but I can't believe there is any speculation that Sibanda not be included in Zim's next international commitment. His strike rate (about 65/100balls) in Logan Cup is better than Matsikenyeri,Coventry, Taylor & Chigumbura. Only Ewing, Strydom & Mutizwa at the time of writing is greater (of those who have scored reasonably this season). And he has a gob full of runs under his belt. If nothing else, if he has the ability to bat 50 overs then an innings can be based around him.

Quite right Mr. Cricket about Vusi Sibanda’s strike rate; and of those three on your list two – Gregory Strydom and Gavin Ewing – are both sloggers. So realistically only Forster Mtizwa, who I think has been a revelation this season, gets runs quicker than Sibanda in first class cricket at a strike rate of 67. In comparison Hamilton Masakadza’s strike rate is about 57 at a good average as well, which should tell you something about Sibanda’s form. So, yes I think he can step it up in one day internationals as an opener.
Of course it’s all going to get very interesting in the middle order now (especially test cricket) with Greg Lamb’s blistering form. Oh, rapture!

[zimfan1]

Cremers trampling allover the Eagles with 7-63 out of 8 wickets

[maehara]

Bad light stopped play. I suspect Eagles didn't have to be asked twice.
Stellar figures for Cremer, though. FC career best, I believe.

[Train Driver]

Teatime in Kwekwe with Eagles looking the side with the biggest chance of a win

Eagles 204 all out this morning, Garwe 53*, Manyumwa 19 and Cremer finishing with a career best 8-92

Set 295 to win Rhinos are 134-4 at tea after being 109-0

Nkala 57, Kasteni 44, Taylor 7, Sibanda 1, Waller 10*, Wessels 6*, Price 2-27

Rhinos require 161, Eagles require 6 wickets, Minimum 36 overs to go (according to cricinfo)

I will probably be accused of bias as a Rhinos supporter, but after the slaughter of Rocks by Mountaineers, if Eagles win this one the Logan as a competition will be almost dead and buried with Eagles and Mountaineers virtually in the final, it would far better to see Rhinos hold out for a draw or to spring a surprise win, honestly, i'm only thinking of the competition overall

[Train Driver]

A draw it is, not sure if the weather had a hand in it or cricinfo were a bit out with their minimum over count as there were still 15 remaining, according to them, when the draw was agreed

Rhinos 168-5, Wessels 25*, Cremer 9*

That leaves Eagles at the top with 147pts, Mountaineers 127pts and Rhinos 117pts

Tuskers have 85pts and Rocks 55pts both with a game in hand

With two more rounds left for the top three sides, we still have some life in the competition to decide the two finalists