http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 4677&cat=5
A few things jumped out at me:BAC out to maintain unbeaten run
By Mehluli Sibanda
BULAWAYO Athletic Club hope to maintain their unbeaten run when they engage Crescent in a Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association First League match at BAC this morning.
After three rounds of matches, BAC are on top of the log with 10 points, Emakhandeni are in second position with nine points while Crescent are third with one point.
In an unfamiliar bottom of the log are Queens Sports Club with no points after being docked points for a slow over rate in their match against BAC last Sunday.
The Bernard Mukondiwa captained BAC are yet to taste defeat so far this season having beaten Crescent and Queens Sports Club and getting a point for a match which was rained off.
In their first match of the season, BAC thumped Crescent by 381 runs. BAC scored 454 runs, Charles Coventry top-scoring with 131 runs, Matthew Williams was second best with 107 runs while Sean Williams scored 93 runs. The source of wickets for Crescent was an unlikely one with Terrence Duffin picking up three wickets.
Crescent in response could only manage 73 runs, their highest score being 24 runs from Salim Manuel. Medium pace bowler Mukondiwa picked up seven wickets for 38 runs from eight overs while off spinner Gavin Ewing took three wickets for just four runs from 1.5 overs.
Just to show how pathetic Crescent were, Christopher Mpofu conceded only 11 runs from six overs, three of which were maidens.
Last Sunday, BAC beat bitter rivals Queens by 48 runs in a match played at BAC. Ebrahim top-scored 66 runs while Ewing made an unbeaten 51 runs to take BAC to 259 for the loss of six wickets in their 50 overs.
Queens were bowled out for 211 runs despite half centuries from Bonaparte Mujuru (71) and Mduduzi Fuzwayo (50).
Today, BAC would be aiming for another big win over Crescent but have to do it without most of their key players. Coventry and Sean Williams are on national duty while Matthew Williams, Ewing and Mupariwa are on duty for Matabeleland Tuskers.
BAC will bank on Freedom Takarusenga, Taurai Madhiri, Matthew Townshend, Chris Mwanza, Brendon Marsh and Dumisani Mankunzini.
Crescent will have to cope without Duffin with Zeeshan Minhas, Manuel and Divesh Hasan expected to carry the day for them.
Emakhandeni would be also out to maintain a fine start when they engage Queens at Emakhandeni.
Mbekezeli Mabuza, Cunningham Ncube, Sydwell Ndlovu, Titus Chipare, Irvine Hadebe are the players expected to steer Emakhandeni to victory. Left handed Keith Dabengwa could play if he is not in the Tuskers line-up for tomorrow’s Faithwear Clothing one-day match against Mashonaland Eagles. Wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Ngulube and John Nyumbu are out of today’s tie because of Matabeleland Tuskers obligations.
Queens have an advantage in that most of their players are available for the match with only Thabo Mboyi and Mujuru unavailable because of franchise commitments. Stanslaus Rukato, Romeo Kasawaya, Fuzwayo and Mike Mhlanga make up the Queens top order.
Trevor Chirwa and Godwin Mamhiyo lead the bowling attack with back up from spinners Kasawaya and Fuzwayo.
Fixtures: today, Crescent v Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC), Emakhandeni v Queens Sports Club (Queens).
Keith Dabengwa is now fit, seems to have recovered from his injury
A couple of weeks ago Charles Coventry still had runs in him (131), a century is a century no matter where it comes from
Let's all feel for poor Crescent, getting 73 when chasing 454 ain't cool
Otherwise nice to see that there's cricket going on below franchise level. Any names that are interesting?
