Series Thread: Logan Cup 2008-09

[CrimsonAvenger]

It is going down to the wire. Who said longer format of the game is boring? This Logan cup has been a rousing success for more reasons than one.

[Detective RDS]

nice to see that taibu and Utseya are returning to form looks like taibu is going to fight all the way for the wicketkeeping spot alongside taylor and mutziwa

malcom waller once again shows that he is a class player as he is on the verge of scoring 6 half centuries in 11 innings which is very consist

My thought is that Taylor, Taibu and Mutizwa all three will play in the Zimbabwean final playing 11 for the next ODI match.

But as far as the wicket keeping is concerned, I think the role will be performed by Forster Mutizwa.

Taylor and Taibu will play as specialist batsmen since they are quality batsmen and they can play without any wicket keeping pressaure. Taibu is very lively in all over the places and I have seen Taylor fielding in the slips before and he can do it quite well.

So, Mutizwa can perform the wicket keeping role and his aggressive batting part will be productive in the middle/lower middle order batting. It will boost the batting strength of the side.

[zimfan1]

i cant see all three of them being in the side

i think if Taylor and Williams are available for selection the side will be

1. Hamilton Madakasdza
2. Brendon Taylor
3. S Matskinyeri
4. S Williams
5. T Taibu (WK)
6. Coventry/Chibahha/Waller/ Mutizwa
7. E Chigumbura
8. P Utseya
9. R Price
10. G Cremer
11. E Rainsford

[brmtaylor.com admin]

i cant see all three of them being in the side

i think if Taylor and Williams are available for selection the side will be

1. Hamilton Madakasdza
2. Brendon Taylor
3. S Matskinyeri
4. S Williams
5. T Taibu (WK)
6. Coventry/Chibahha/Waller/ Mutizwa
7. E Chigumbura
8. P Utseya
9. R Price
10. G Cremer
11. E Rainsford

Tough isn't it, Mutizwa and Waller have been equally outstanding in the Logan Cup. I think Waller has about 40 more runs overall, but Mutizwa has scored a century. Probably Mutizwa would squeeze ahead at the moment because he did so well in Kenya, and is maybe a touch more agressive batsman? Either way, you don't want to leave either out. To be honest, I'd say take Matsikenyeri out, shift Williams and Taibu up one slot and have Waller at #5. Matsikenyeri is the dictionary definition of a flat track bully - he can score runs against any team worse than Ireland, but otherwise goes missing for years on end. Having said that, I think he would be a good Zimbabwe A captain at the moment. At least he has a lot of experience, which will be invaluable to younger players in the Zimbabwe A team. And if Matsikenyeri starts scoring runs against India A, South Africa A, Pakistan A, etc... then he can make a case for returning to the national team.

[zimfan1]

i think you have identified the two major problems that the selectors will face when selecting to squad for the next one day series (whenever that will be)

How do you leave Matskikenyeri out and how how do you fit Waller in

the main problem with Matskikenyeri is that he has scored runs in both the logan cup and the fiathware series and in order to show the first class players that they will be rewarded for good domestic performances he has to get in the side

The same question has to be asked of Chibbahba has he has scored plenty of runs and taken a few wickets so on form he should be in the side but how do we find a place for him

With Waller the problem is that he has showed his best form in the longer version of the game instead of the 50 over format, there would be o question that if we played a test match tomorrow that he would be in the side but can he adapt he patient game to the 50 over format, he probably can but i think it would take some time (about a year) but will the selectors give him time?

But saying all this i have my doubts that Taylor and Williams will be available for selection for the next series (In June against India or August against Bangladesh)

[brmtaylor.com admin]

It is going down to the wire. Who said longer format of the game is boring? This Logan cup has been a rousing success for more reasons than one.

Wow, who would have thought the entire Logan Cup would come down to final days play?

Northerns all out for 166 in the 3rd innings, Easterns on 6/62 in the 4th innings. Easterns need 90 runs to win with 4 wickets in hand. Masakadza on 33 not out... tense. I'm guessing they sent Tiripano is a nightwatchman, so Masakadza and Mutizwa should be batting tomorrow morning (or now, or whenever day 4 starts). Chasing 90, and assuming it is indeed Maskadza and Mutizwa, you'd probably still have your money on Easterns. But their tail isn't that strong. Mujaji and Mushangwe might not provide much resistance, although S Masakadza could probably stick around.

Incidentally, I think Utseya will end the series on 30 wickets. Price is currently on 29 I think, with the innings still incomplete. So that's one stat to keep an eye on as well. In the Centrals match, Waller made a second innings 34 so I'm guessing - unless there's a blitzkrieg by Mutizwa - he will finish comfortably as the leading run scorer.



From zimcricket.org:

Northerns and Easterns tie still too close to call


Northerns 2nd innings 166 all out in 47.4 overs (E.Chigumbura 38, S.Mwakayeni 33, P.Utseya 6/55, S.Masakadza 3/56)
Easterns 2nd innings 62 for 6 in 26 overs (H.Masakadza 33*, T.Maruma 17, G.Cremer 2/12, E.Chigumbura 1/16)

Stumps Day 3 of 4

BILLED the biggest match of the Logan Cup 2009 series, the Northerns versus Easterns match is living up to the punditry with very little separating the rivals even after Northerns seemed to have given it away with their second innings total of 166 all out in which Prosper Utseya took six wickets for 55 in his devastating spell.

Northerns made 213 in the first innings before Easterns bowlers removed them all for a total of 379 in the two innings. Easterns made 227 in reply in their first innings, a lead of just 14 runs and it seemed when Northerns collapsed all out for 166, Easterns could chase that with much easy.

But it was not to be as Cephas Zhuwawo and Trevor Garwe effected the most beautiful run out for Stuart Matsikenyeri for just one with the second ball of the over, thanks to a very fast Elton Chigumbura ball. The score was 1/1 and slowly the Utseya foundation looked threatened.

No sooner had Matsikenyeri made the long walk to the pavilion than Benard Mlambo, whose bad call resulted in the departure for Matsikenyeri, perished caught by Graeme Cremer off Chigumbura to trigger a mini crisis in the ranks.

With both openers out for nine runs, Hamilton Masakadza set on repairing the innings the same way he did in the first match at the Academy. When stumps came he was still on the crease with a patient 33 off 65 balls in which he hit four boundaries in 118 minutes.

The departure for Donald Tiripano, trapped leg before wicket by Cremer ended the innings on the third day with Masakadza set to continue the chase for victory. Easterns need 90 runs to win on Friday and have four wickets in hand.

And Northerns need the wickets to avoid a repeat of the first round in which they seemed in a very comfortable position before Masakadza batted two days to hand Easterns victory.

But Northerns bowlers are in no mood to let lightning strike again for them. And they are in the mood. Cremer has already claimed two with Chigumbura another and his ball the appetizer for the run out that ended Matsikenyeri shift in its infancy.

With Matsikenyeri (1), Timycen Maruma (17), Mlambo (5) and Tiripano (2) all removed, Easterns have their hope in Masakadza and should he depart early on the final day, they could kiss good bye thoughts of wrestling the cup from Northerns.

[zimfan1]

Northerns won toss elected to bat - 1st innings Northerns 213 for 10; Easterns 217 for 9

2nd innings Northerns - 166 for 10; Easterns 155/9 Match result: Easterns won by 1 wkt

Westerns won toss elected to field - 1st innings Centrals 299 for 10; Westerns 269 for 10

2nd innings Centrals 280 for 7; Westerns 44 for 3 - Match result: Draw

[Detective RDS]

Link: http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=688

Easterns are the Logan Cup 2009 champs


STEVEN Mangongo won the battle of coaches when his Easterns side beat bitter rivals Northerns by one wicket in this nerve wreaking encounter in the final match of the 2009 Logan Cup at Alexandra Sports Club on Thursday.

The closely fought match went the way of their first encounter at the Academy grounds when, then as now, Easterns were set a target to win the match and they got it with Shingi Masakadza the man to see them through. He was the same man who hit the winning boundary in the first encounter to settle the bragging rights battle.

Northerns who looked to be safe with their excellent bowling needed to finish the tail off but one bad ball ensured Easterns wrap up the series and take over from their rivals as the champs. The battle was won and so the war ended, albeit for a period as they turn to the Twenty20 to battle it out again, this time in Bulawayo.

After making a total 379 in the two innings, Northerns failed to set a big score for their rivals to chase with Easterns replying with a first innings total of 227 before finishing off with 155 for nine to win by one wicket.

But the Centrals versus Westerns dead rubber could not find the winner and the match ended as a draw as Centrals who seemed to have done enough for victory just failed to handle the Westerns pressure on the last day.

Neutrals will say it was a fair result.

[Train Driver]

I see that we finally have some Round 6 scorecards

The bore draw

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Score ... 14569.html

http://content.cricinfo.com/zimbabwedom ... 87906.html

and the absolutely not bore draw

http://content.cricinfo.com/zimbabwedom ... 87907.html


http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Score ... 14570.html

What a fantastic way to finish off this years Logan Cup.

[Detective RDS]

Link: http://content.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/co ... 04029.html

Logan Cup 2008-09

Utseya leads Easterns to Logan Cup win

Cricinfo staff

May 12, 2009

Easterns 227 (Mlambo 60, Maruma 52) and 155 for 9 (Cremer 4-57) beat Northerns 213 (Taibu 74, Utseya 4-38) and 166 (Utseya 6-55) by one wicket
Scorecard

Prosper Utseya's ten-wicket haul helped Easterns clinch a thrilling one-wicket victory in a low-scoring contest against Northerns at Alexandra Sports Club in Harare. The win helped Easterns secure the Logan Cup by finishing on 93 points, 16 clear of Northerns in second place. Chasing only 153 in the final innings, Easterns sneaked home with No 9 and No 11 adding the last 11 runs needed for victory.

Easterns never had any momentum during the final innings with batsmen falling at regular intervals. Hamilton Masakadza top-scored with 45 while Utseya contributed 24 but the innings was in disarray at 97 for 6. Shingirai Masakadza, however, scored an unbeaten 23 to take his team over the line.

A larger target would have proved beyond Easterns and it was due to Utseya that they had to chase only 153. Northerns had made a steady start to their second innings, reaching 78 for 1 before Utseya began to run through the line-up. He took four middle-order wickets and returned to mop up the tail to finish with 6 for 55.

The low scores of both teams in the second innings continued the trend set in the first. Northerns were dismissed for only 213 after choosing to bat with Tatenda Taibu top-scoring with 74. Utseya's 4 for 38 played a crucial role in restricting the batsmen.

Easterns made a superb start in reply, with their openers adding 104 but they lost ten wickets for 123 runs. Bernard Mlambo and Timycen Maruma scored half-centuries and gave their team a slender lead. It wasn't much but it was vital in the closest of finishes.


Centrals 299 (Tichana 65, Waller 61, Nyumbu 3-85, Takarusenga 3-26) and 280 for 7 declared (Nyathi 100, Mahlunge 66*) drew with Westerns 269 (Ngulube 48, Chibhabha 3-74, Kamungozi 3-34) and 44 for 3 (Takarusenga 25, Kamungozi 2-17)
Scorecard



A century from Remembrance Nyathi and excellent support through Tarisai Mahlunge's 240-ball 66 helped Centrals recover from a precarious situation at 88 for 6, and earn a draw against Westerns in Harare. The game had been closely-fought in the first innings, with Centrals earning a 30-run lead after bowling out the opposition for 269. Chamu Chibhabha and Tafadzwa Kamungozi toojk three wickets each as none of the Westerns batsmen were able to score a half-century.

Centrals, however, came close to squandering the advantage as the Westerns bowlers rallied well around Tawanda Mupariwa to strike at frequent intervals and threaten to squeeze a win by bowling them out cheaply. However, they were met with some dogged resistance from the Centrals lower order as Nyathi and Mahlunge grafted 165 runs for the seventh wicket to take the game out of Westerns' reach. They declared with a score of 280, and scored a moral victory by knocking off three wickets in the Westerns innings in what eventually ended as a tame draw.

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