[Match Thread] Mountaineers v Tuskers (Logan Cup)

[maehara]

Vermuelen out for 12 - no comeback-kid performance for him today...

[Zimfanatic69]

Vermuelen out for 12 - no comeback-kid performance for him today...

They better hide anything breakable in the changing room.

[maehara]

Mountaineers 255 all out, trail by 12.

[StevenZim]

Just checked the score for the first time. Great Start this year for chappy coventry. I got a feeling he will be having a breakout year this year and be a top run scorer.

[Zimfanatic69]

Just checked the score for the first time. Great Start this year for chappy coventry. I got a feeling he will be having a breakout year this year and be a top run scorer.

it would be great if he could. a great natural talent but lacking in consistencey.

[CrimsonAvenger]

This has the potential of turning out to be a nail biter. Mountaineers need 244 to win tomorrow with 10 wickets in hand.

Good efforts with the ball by Mpofu and Ncube to restrict the Mountaineers, but this was followed by another dismal batting effort by Tuskers. Saving grace this time being Keegan Meth's 81. Shingi getting a 5-for is a good sign.

[sloandog]

Meth again !

[jimbo]

I think we havent seen the best of shingi masacadza. He came in for one international and got blasted initially by chris gayle ( doesnt everyone) and then came back well to effectively win the match for Zimbabwe by bowling some great yorkers. Initially I would put his first spell in that match down to nerves but I think he looked like he had something and has been taking wickets consitently really. Get him in the One day side I say. Him and rainsford opening the bowling would be a great partnership...

[Boundary]

I think we havent seen the best of shingi masacadza. He came in for one international and got blasted initially by chris gayle ( doesnt everyone) and then came back well to effectively win the match for Zimbabwe by bowling some great yorkers. Initially I would put his first spell in that match down to nerves but I think he looked like he had something and has been taking wickets consitently really. Get him in the One day side I say. Him and rainsford opening the bowling would be a great partnership...

Couldn't agree more. He's got something and he'll be a welcome genuine new ball threat or at least someone capable of yorkers at the dearth. But we've had a tendency of graduating players too early, let's see how his season unfolds.

The Tuskers batting is worrying, Duffin needs to put more runs at the top and our tail needs to wag a little more. This will go either way.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Mark Vermuelen returns to haunt Tuskers
As Mountaineers win by Six wickets.
Former Tuskers batsman Mark Vermuelen celebrated his return to Queens Sports club by scoring a patient century in a pulsating Logan cup encounter at Queens Sports club in a Logan cup match. The Mountaineers top order batsman led his team to victory as he marshaled his teams effort home.
On an intriguing last day were victory could have gone either way ,Vermuelen chose this occasion to showcase his batting prowess . Vermuelen batted for minutes in which he scored fours. He played a calm and collected game which was laced with big hits and good rotation of strike with his batting partners from the other end.
The Tuskers won the toss and opted to bat , and were reeling to Natsai Mushangwe who picked up four wickets. The young leg spinner bowled with guile and control which proved to be the difference in the Tuskers batting effort , Charles Coventry led the way for the Tuskers with a century and found support from Sean Williams and Keegan Meth who got into the thirties but failed to push on to put up a big score.
In the end the Tuskers put 269 runs all out , largely thanks to Charles Coventry who huffed and puffed on his way to 114 runs. As he ran out of partners his he started playing big shots which led to his demise trying to take on the spin bowlers.
The Mountaineers innings started of impressively with Bernard Mlambo and Tinotenda Mawoyo scoring largely in boundaries , Mlambo in particular was severe on the seamers whom he punished when ever the strayed from the right line and length. Mawoyo scored a breath taking 67 cover drives before being trapped LBW by Keegan Meth.
Njabulo Ncube then got into the act and claiming a career high four wickets which included the big wicket of Hamilton Masakadza who he trapped in front LBW. The Mountaineers were bowled out for 262 .
The Tuskers second innings was nothing like the first as the top order failed to click and were left prodding along at 24 for 3 with Shingirai Masakadza in magnificent form on his way to claiming a game high 5 wickets. The only Tuskers batsman who stood his ground was Keegan Meth who hit an attacking 94 runs before falling to , Bradley Staddon and Tawanda Mupariwa saw Meth through his innings but his fall somewhat killed of the fight in the Tuskers as the remaining wickets tumbled leaving the home team with a small target to chase.
As the matched headed to the home stretch on day four the Mountaineers needed 250 runs to win. A score which was never going to be beyond the impressive batting line up of the Mountaineers. Tinotenda Mawoyo got the Mountaineers off to a good start with Mawoyo once again leading the , but his fall on 40 runs brought in Mark Vermuelen who punished his former team mates , as he batted through on his way to an unbeaten 111 runs .He scored 18 boundaries bring up both his fifty and century in fine style smashing the ball to the boundary.
Prosper Utseya played well for his 33 runs departing when his team needed just 54 runs , team captain who dropped down the order due to injury came in a played a little cameo punishing both Ncube and Mpofu before the former gained some measure of revenge , yoking out .
In the end it was left to Benjamin Katsande and Benjamin Katsande to steer the ship home for a six wicket victory which will be remembered for the heroics Mark Vermuelen, whose celebration of kissing the Mountaineers badge endeared him to the few fans from the Mountaineers camp.



Source-
Brian Tsekwende
Mountaineers Media Officer