[Match Thread] Tuskers v Eagles (Logan Cup)

[CrimsonAvenger]

The match is on, and Tuskers are in a familiar spot of bother. 202/7 as I write, Strydom playing a captains knock to save face. Jarvis is back for Eagles after the injury layoff.

http://www.cricinfo.com/zimdomestic-09/ ... 14307.html

[CrimsonAvenger]

Matt Williams gets another opportunity for Tuskers, while Vermeulen and Coventry are absent from the starting lineup.

[tailender]

Tuskers 217 all out. Eagles are proving to be the best side in the Logan Cup

[sloandog]

A good knock for skipper Greg Strydom, and a handy innings from young Williams. ( i didnt actually look which one it actually was

Greg Lamb continues to impress with his all round abilities, 2day with the ball. If this guy isnt in the next Zimbabwe squad i'll be very surprised. A valuable 4for. Lets see if our barsmen can do the rest.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Ah! Cricinfo back to its best: Matt Williams disappears from the scoresheet, and Sean Williams elevated to captaincy. So, Greg Strydom's knock wasn't "Captain's Knock" after all ...

[zimfan1]

Eagles continue to look good, things arnt looking good for Tuskers coach Robin Brown if you read the media reports.

Not suprised Sean Williams has taken on the captaincy as if we look back to the 2006 under 19 world cup he led the side very well including a win over England

[zimfan1]

John Ward on form once again

Mashonaland Eagles dominate Mat-Tuskers

By John Ward

Despite a fighting innings of 70 from Greg Strydom, Mashonaland Eagles dominated the first day’s play of their match against Matabeleland Tuskers at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

They dismissed their opponents for 217 and then ran up a brisk 61 without losing a wicket by the close, with Tafadzwa Mufambisi in fine form with the bat.

Matabeleland fielded a depleted side, with Terry Duffin, Charles Coventry and Gavin Ewing all missing due to injury, and Mark Vermeulen omitted, once again, sadly, for disciplinary reasons.

They did have the advantage of winning the toss and decided to bat.

The players, however, were not too happy with the pitch, which was slow and discouraged strokeplay, while doing little to encourage bowlers apart from making them difficult to score from if they bowled with accuracy.

The visitors lost an early wicket in Bonaparte Mujuru, who was trapped lbw to Kyle Jarvis for a single in the second over, the bowler moving the ball in and the batsman failing to play a genuine stroke.

Dion Ebrahim joined Tafadzwa Ngulube, and the two of them made heavy weather of the bowling, which was of quite reasonable quality, but still provided loose deliveries now and then which were often unpunished.

The score reached 29 rather painfully before Ngulube lost patience and hit a catch straight at forward short leg, off Elton Chigumbura, to depart for 13.

Ebrahim had a narrow escape when he decided to go for a big on-drive off a ball from Raymond Price, but got a leading edge and the ball just cleared mid-off.

At lunch the score was 59 for two after two hours’ batting.

The afternoon was more entertaining and came in two distinct sections. Firstly four quick wickets fell, starting with that of Ebrahim, who groped outside the off stump to the third ball, from Trevor Garwe, and was caught at the wicket for 30.

Keith Dabengwa (5) was well trapped by Price, as he went for a big leg-side hit, only to lob a catch to a fielder cleverly placed at a square third-man position.

Sean Williams began batting with purpose and played a few good strokes, but the pitch got to him too in the end, and an attempted big hit off Greg Lamb skied a catch to midwicket.

Then Mbeke Mabuza made 13 before departing lbw to Chigumbura, and six wickets were down for 93.

Then the bat took charge.

It was a hot day and the quality of the bowling declined, while Strydom, the one man so far who managed to drive the ball with confidence, took advantage of it.

He found a good partner in Kegan Meth, who also showed positive strokeplay and whose innings included a six over long-on off Price.

The bowler had his revenge, though, having him caught at the wicket for 30 as he tried to sweep.

At tea Matabeleland were looking rather better at 165 for seven, with Strydom still at the crease with 51; his half-century came off 76 balls.

The bowlers tightened up after tea, and even Strydom was forced to rein himself in for a few overs.

Then he broke the shackles with two superb sixes off successive deliveries from Lamb: the first landed on the players’ balcony and the second on the roof above it, from where it had to be retrieved.

He had already lofted a ball from Tino Mutombodzi for a straight six before tea.

Soon afterwards, though, he was caught at slip cutting at a ball from Price, and departed for 71 off 109 balls.

Besides his three sixes, he hit six fours.

Tawanda Mupariwa had given Strydom sound support, and the pair had taken the score past 200.

He made 21 before he was bowled by Lamb, slogging across the line, and the same bowler wrapped up the innings with a full toss that John Nyumbu obligingly hit straight to mid-on.

The final total was 217, which does not sound impressive, but it remained to be seen how many Mashonaland would score on this pitch.

Tafadzwa Mufambisi came out bristling to open the innings for Mashonaland.

Facing the second over of the innings from Meth, he laced the medium-pacer for five powerful fours in the over, and continued to attack the bowling in admirable style.

His opening partner, Sam Mwakayeni, also looked positive, but had more difficulty piercing the field, despite his penchant for the spectacular hook and the cut.

It took a while for the bowlers to adjust and tighten up so as to impose some restraint, by which time the close of play was upon them.

Mufambisi finished the day with an unbeaten 42 off 34 deliveries, while Mwakayeni had 14.

Mashonaland have taken a big step towards winning the match at this point, but the result is by no means a foregone conclusion.

[zimfan1]

Matabeleland Tuskers 217
Mashonaland Eagles 135/4 (51.0 ov)

Chigumbura 7*
Greg Lamb 27*

I think Greg Lamb after a slow start this domestic season is really starting to come into contention for national team selection, he could be ideal for the T20 world cup as that form of the game is where he has had the most sucess for Hampshire.

[sloandog]

But in past threads some have said that Lamb is restricted in what he has in terms of stroke play. I've seen him play for Hampshire, and that's totally not true. If anything he's very risty, and looks to be a superb player of spin. And yes Zimfan1, he would be ideal for the T20 World Cup

[sloandog]

72 to Greg Lamb including 13 boundry fours' with a strike tate of 101.9. Now i dont care who says this guy is limited, he's got class and he needs to be in the next Zimbabwe touring squad. He's got to be. He Ervine and Sibanda, Meth as a second option
This is great to see, after all the tough times the Zimbabwean domestic season hashad, it looks like this Franchise System is really bringing out the best in our young guys.