Series Thread: Logan Cup 2008-09

[zimfan1]

from my caluculations it should still be the holidays in zim next week so we may get a chance to see pete moor and nathen waller play

[Detective RDS]

Link: http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=661

Logan Cup resumes Tuesday after a break


THE Premier domestic cricket tournament, the Logan Cup that took a recess to accommodate the Easter and Independence holidays in the country, returns to the stage with the fourth round of matches at Harare Sports Club and Alexandra Sports Club from Tuesday.
Leaders at the halfway mark, Easterns, engage winless Westerns at Harare Sports Club while Northerns, who lost their second round match to Easterns at Academy grounds on the last day of round three, are at Alexandra Sports club where they face vastly improved Centrals.

Easterns with national team opener Hamilton Masakadza as captain fantastic after his heroic 142 on the last day, go into the fourth round of the competition as favourites to beat Westerns who in their three matches have not won, let alone demonstrated ample resistance to force a result.

The Keith Dabengwa captained side have been losing so sheepishly that many hope the long break was necessary to reignite their fighting power, so amply demonstrated in the Faithwear Series in March. Facing Easterns, who were frustrated into a draw against Centrals in the second round, offers some interesting engagements.

Both captains Masakadza and Dabengwa are national team players who understand the matrix of the match and their performance would be of interest to selectors who said have been impressed by the general performance of most players.

Northerns captained by all rounder Elton Chigumbura have so much potential and firepower in their side that on paper they look impregnable but one of their key arsenal former national team captain Tatenda Taibu, has not been firing on all cylinders. Should he hit top form, Taibu is a complete match winner and coupled with the likes of spinners Ray Price and Graeme Cremer, Northerns have what it takes to beat any side.

Centrals, who would be missing the services of captain Chamu Chibhabha and Edward Rainsford, will offer the necessary competition to Northerns. With weather looking as perfect for matches as socket and plug, another roller coaster of a contest is guaranteed. Matches kick off at 0930hrs and run until Friday.

[Detective RDS]

Link: http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=663

Injuries rob Logan Cup of its pace and poise


PACEMEN Douglas Hondo and Edward Rainsford will not take part in the fourth round of the Logan Cup that resumes on Tuesday at Harare Sports Club and Alexandra Sports Club due to hamstring strains, the National team physiotherapist, Amato Machikicho said.
The pace duo will be joined by fiery if swashbuckling batsman Mark Vermuelen who has a left little finger fracture forced when he dived for a stupendous catch that saw the dismissal of Chamu Chibhabha at second slip in the third round match while playing for his still winless side, Westerns.

National team physiotherapist also revealed that Hondo who plays for Easterns has left hamstring strain and will be out of the clash against Westerns at Harare Sports Club.

One of the best bowlers of the series Rainsford also misses out the improved Centrals challenge against Northerns at Alex with a right hamstring tear. The national team new ball bowler has been in inspired form and his absence would be felt as that leaves his side without his natural aggression. He has been the Centrals bedrock.

Injuries also robbed Westerns of their captain Keith Dabengwa in the third round loss to Centrals just before the Easter holidays break. But Machikicho told the website that the all rounder will feature in Westerns cause only as a batsman as his back strain has not totally eased for bowling duties.

[Detective RDS]

That means Douglas Hondo and Edward Rainsford,two key bowlers of their side will miss the 4th round of Logan Cup for hamstring strains injury concerns.Mark Vermeulen to miss the 4th round too due to his left hand little finger is fractured and Keith Dabengwa to feature as a batsman.

I think the absence of the two key bowlers who are I strongly suspect to feature in the national side,will decrease some bowling depth of their side.But the inclusion of Sean Williams will boost the Westerns side as far as their batting consistency is concerned.

[maehara]

Northerns 351/4 (Taylor 95, Waller 1/9), Centrals yet to bat.

Northerns 351 for 4 in 84.3 overs (B.Taylor 95, T.Taibu 92, 77* M.Waller 1/9, B.Mahwire 1/40, T.Kamungozi 1/90, B.Mugochi 1/116)
At stumps on Day 1 of 4

BRENDAN Taylor returned to the familiar territory from his career sojourn abroad and immediately hit a half century that was in essence five runs short of a deserved century, when he led Northerns to 351 for four at close on the first day of the fourth round of Logan Cup at Alexandra Sports Club on Tuesday.

Taylor (95) and Tatenda Taibu who also made an aggressive 92 in 141 overs were in imperious form as Northerns punished Centrals bowlers who were missing the power and penetration of their strike bowler Edward Rainsford due to hamstring strain.

But it was the surprise return of Taylor that was the talking point as he hit seven boundaries and four maximums before Malcom Waller had him caught by Tafadzwa Kamungozi going for a six as his confidence merited a century.

So bullish were Northerns that it took them a good 28 overs to lose the first wicket, that of opener Sam Mwakayeni who went for 49 after facing 113 balls. He hit eight boundaries before he cleanly bowled by Kamungozi.

Taylor who was dropped by Waller while on 61 was ably supported by Taibu who too was dropped before finally perishing eight runs shorts of a century. Taibu, who hit 10 boundaries faced 141 balls and lasted 114 minutes on the crease as Northerns took total control of the proceedings on the first day.

Cephas Zhuwawo (16) became Blessing Mahwire's victim in Centrals' first breakthrough breaking the opening partnership with Mwakayeni. Kamungozi, Brian Mugochi and Waller took a wicket each as stumps came with an imposing 351 on the board after 84.3 overs. Northerns looks set to bat to a score of 400 before they can declare.

The dangerous Regis Chakabva was still unbeaten on 77 with 12 boundaries spread around the whole pitch while captain Elton Chigumbura had four runs on the board from 19 balls. Centrals who played brilliantly in dismissing Westerns in the third round found it very difficult against a fired up Northerns who looked impish from the first ball.

At stumps, Centrals bowlers heaved a huge sigh of relief as their toil only yielded four wickets the whole day. Even the cricket purists could not argue against the imposing presence of Taylor whose form looked so good that he dragged other batsmen into it.

The foundation set by Taylor an Taibu ensured that at close Northerns looked fresh and comfortable. It might actually be the inning that may secure the match if Centrals collapse soon.

http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=664

[maehara]

Easterns 200 (Mutizwa 50, Nyumbu 5/76), Westerns 1/16 (Takurasenga 11*, S Masakadza 1/4)

Easterns 200 all out (F. Mutizwa 50, H. Masakadza 34, T. Maruma 25; J. Nyumbu 5/78, F. Takarusenga 4/35)
Westerns 16 for 1 (F. Takarusenga 11*, C. Mpofu 1*; S. Masakadza 1/4)

At Stumps Day 1 of 4-day match.

EFFECTIVE spells of spin bowling by John Nyumbu and Freedom Takarusenga saw Westerns dismiss Easterns for 200 runs in their first innings, on the first day of their Logan Cup match at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

Nyumbu finished with five wickets for 78 runs in 29 overs, five of them maiden, while Takarusenga had four wickets for 35 runs in 14.1 overs with four maidens, after Westerns had won the toss and opted to bowl.

The first wicket to fall was that of Tinotenda Mawoyo (8). In his second Logan Cup match since his return to action after a long lay-off due to a torn cartilage and then damaged ligament of the same left knee, the opener fell to the right-arm off-break trickery of Nyumbu.

Fellow opener Bernard Mlambo followed for 24, when he prodded a return catch to Nyumbu to leave Easterns 43 for two after the morning session. After lunch, Nyumbu remained in devastating form to account for number three Stuart Matsikenyeri who was now at the crease with fellow Zimbabwe international Hamilton Masakadza. The 23-year old bowled Matsikenyeri for 14 runs. Easterns were now 82 for three.

Masakadza was joined by Zimbabwe skipper Prosper Utseya but their partnership did not flourish as the former departed soon after to leave it 86 for four. Masakadza (34 off 51 balls) was caught by Charles Coventry off the bowling of Zimbabwe pacer Tawanda Mupariwa.

It was left to Utseya and the in-form Forster Mutizwa to build the highest partnership for Easterns on the day - 49 runs, in their stand for the fifth wicket which was broken when Utseya (18) was caught by Njabulo Ncube off Takarusenga.

Mutizwa went on to make a half-century. It came off 68 balls, seven of them fours, in 92 minutes in the middle. Two balls later and without moving past his 50, Mutizwa became Nyumbu's fourth victim.

The fifth was the next wicket to fall, that of Timycen Maruma, for 25 - stumped by Tafadzwa Ngulube. Westerns were 16 for one at stumps on the first day, with Takarusenga (11) and Christopher Mpofu (1) at the crease.

While they did not have his bowling option, they now have the batting contribution of Keith Dabengwa, who missed the last match with an acute back injury.

Physiotherapist Amato Machikicho says the all-rounder is not yet strong enough to bowl in a four-day match. Top-order batsman Mark Vermeulen, who suffered a tip-end fracture of his left little finger when he caught Chamunorwa Chibhabha at second slip in the first innings of their last Logan Cup match, remains out for the next two to three weeks.

http://www.zimcricket.org/?pid=art&articleid=665

[Train Driver]

Good and bad news then.

Rainsford and Hondo have been recent injury victims so it's not good to see their names on the list again, if Vermeulen 'remains out for the next two to three weeks' then i can't see him playing again in this years Logan.

The return of Taylor is most unexpected and most welcome as is the return of both Taibu and Chakabva to the scoring column.

Mahwire is in to replace Rainsford but i don't see any confirmation of the name Williams, hopefully that will come tomorrow.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Another 50 for Mutizwa, he is playing very well. And the big news, the return of Taylor! Better still, 95 is a great score on return.
Also good to see Takarusenga hitting some form with 4/35 after 14.1 overs - 11* at stumps, hopefully he is able to turn that into a big score.

Seeing Mpofu is the nightwatchman, hopefully that is the reason we haven't seen Williams name yet as he hasn't batted yet.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Well, indeed a few peices of great news, and a few depressing ones too. Vermeulen's bid to get back into national team would have to wait a little longer than expected now, but injury to Rainsford is the worst news of the week. Hope he recovers quickly.

Taylor is back and all the wicket keepers are amongst runs. Man! this race is sure hotting up... Let us see if we can witness a magical knock from Williams today...

[Detective RDS]

News of the century,BRENDAN TAYLOR RETURNS TO ZIMBABWE.This is really an excellent news.He will straight come back into the national team as an opener/middle order.

Rainsford and Hondo have been recent injury victims so it's not good to see their names on the list again, if Vermeulen 'remains out for the next two to three weeks' then i can't see him playing again in this years Logan.

Mark Vermeulen will be back for the last two matches of Westerns in the Logan Cup.

"Westerns were further crippled by injury to skipper Dabengwa and Vermeulen in their match against Centrals. Dabengwa should be available for their next assignment against Easterns while Vermeulen will miss the match against Easterns but should be back for the last two encounters against Northerns and Centrals."-From Sunday news

Also nice to see Tatenda Taibu making runs.Regis Chakabva also back in the runs.Forster Mutizwa with yet another fifty.

Overally,I see the Zimbabwean ODI team shaping up like this:

Masakadza,Taibu,Williams,Taylor,Coventry,Chigumbura,Utseya,Mutizwa(WK),Price,Cremer,Rainsford. Vermeulen,Waller,Hondo,Mupariwa.