[Match Thread] Tuskers v Rhinos (Logan Cup)

[Train Driver]

The morning certainly belongs to Tuskers, 181-5 to 333-6 at lunch in 35 overs, based on the cricinfo stats.

If i remember the points system correctly, i think that's 4 pts to Tuskers so far and just 2 pts to Rhinos with 6 overs still available.

Tuskers will certainly be happy with 5 batsman passing 40 while only Cremer seems to have been effective with the ball, with Rainsford, Mugochi and Mire missing the bowling reserves don't seem very good, i wonder why Waller has only had 1 over and Nyathi none at all ?

[zimfan1]

The morning certainly belongs to Tuskers, 181-5 to 333-6 at lunch in 35 overs, based on the cricinfo stats.

If i remember the points system correctly, i think that's 4 pts to Tuskers so far and just 2 pts to Rhinos with 6 overs still available.

Tuskers will certainly be happy with 5 batsman passing 40 while only Cremer seems to have been effective with the ball, with Rainsford, Mugochi and Mire missing the bowling reserves don't seem very good, i wonder why Waller has only had 1 over and Nyathi none at all ?

Our tactic seems to be toss the ball to Cremer whilst rotating the bowlers at the other end. What more worrying is that when Cremer was away with the national team Andy Waller used the same tatics with Dylon Higgins instead of Cremer. We despratley need Rainsford to recover from his injury or possible try and bring another fast bowler in.

Perhaps we can get one of the many Eagles bowlers on loan

[zimfan1]

And Cremer gets his 9th five wicket haul in first class cricket and he is also approaching 200 first class wickets. At the age of 23 that is a fantastic achievement. As one who has always stuck by Zimbabwe cricket its going to be interesting to see what he ends up with at the end of his career as he could have another 15 years left in him

Nice innings by Meth there, im sure that has got the selectors thinking a bit and if he can follow this up with a good performance with the ball then he has a serious chance. He defiantly needs to be in the "A" side for the next ICC Trophy match.

iIce to see Coventry return to a bit of form, i personally think he has been harshly treated by the Coach and selectors as even after his 194* he was not given a run of matches at number 3, he got a couple of games where he failed and was shoved down the order.

[zimfan1]

And Coventry reaches his 2nd first class 100, top effort by the lad as he has been in a bad run of form over the last few weeks, it was a more patient innings that we are used to seeing from him which hopefully shows that he can adapt to all forms of cricket. It wasn’t scored against the best attack in the world with only Cremer being anywhere near the national side but a hundred is a hundred and hopefully he can learn from this in the future and go on to play longer innings.

One of the big problem in Zimbabwe is the lack of hundreds being scored at first class level. We are producing good batsman who score lots of 50's 60's and 70's but there is a big lack of hundreds scored which shows a lack of application and patience and is something that the batsman need to start correcting ASAP

As i speak Waller take out Coventry for exactly 100

[zimfan1]

Matabeleland Tuskers 418 (119.2 ov)

Cremer ends up with 7/124 of 42.2 overs another good effort by this emerging player.

Looks like the Tuskers lineup is starting to fire at last with Strydom, Ebrahim, Ewing and Meth all scoring 50's along with Coventrys 100, now lets see what the new man Rikki Wessels can do for the Rhinos.

[zimfan1]

The answer to that question is not at all well

Great start from Mpofu and the Tuskers taking two in two balls. The Rhinos will now be looking from another captains innings from Vusi Sibanda to dig us out of this hole. But we still have the likes of Taylor, Waller and Cremer to come.

Looks like Robin Brown has finally got the Tuskers playing and about time to, as if we analyse the strengths of all of the sides, on paper the Tuskers should be running away at the top in both competitions. Mainly due to Staddons spending power which is far greater than any other side.

And yes Tuskers fans that is a bit of jealousy talking

[Train Driver]

It seems as though the scoreboard has ground to a stand again, match delayed this time with the cricinfo weather, i say cricinfo weather as it's possible that it could be different from real weather , showing 18 and cloudy.

40-2 in reply to Tuskers 418 thanks to a recovery from Sibanda and Kasteni, it does look a little like my thoughts of Wessels strengthening the batting have been put to one side, just for today of course

I make the first innings Tuskers 4 pts to Rhinos 3 pts and my crystal ball tells me Cremer will have his feet up after 42 overs .....

[zimfan1]

Close of play
16 Nov day 1 - Matabeleland Tuskers 1st innings 181/5 (CK Coventry 10*, GM Strydom 17*, 59 ov)
17 Nov day 2 - Mid West Rhinos 1st innings 40/2 (V Sibanda 20*, F Kasteni 15*, 16.3 ov)

Looks like it was real weather

Big day for the batsman tommorow but we know that in Sibanda, Kasteni, Taylor, Waller and even Cremer we have batsman capable of batting the day out!!

[StevenZim]

Sibanda is about to get another century. Definately player of the tournament so far batting wise. Will have to come into contention for the national side now i would think.

[zimfan1]

Sibanda has now scored five centuries in nine innings a fantastic effort. Looks like Keegen Meth is really starting to press his claims now with three wickets to go with his 67 in the first innings.

8 wickets down now the Rhinos are really struggling to avoid the follow on now