Zimbabwe will meet Kenya in an ODI series in September / October of this year. The tour is part of ZC’s efforts to fill in their schedule after the postponment of the tour by India, although they’re also hoping to get at least one other series scheduled for earlier in the year. Speaking to the Zimbabwe Independent, Cricket Kenya spokesman Tom Tikolo stated they were hoping to arrange for another side to join the tour to allow for a tri-series:
“The tour is to take place in September/October 2008 and we hope that we can have another international team to have (a) tri-series. We hope we can get at least three ODIs and two four-day matches.”
Cricket Kenya are also hoping that if results go their way, the tour will encourage other Full Member sides to play against them, and that the tour will help improve Zimbabwe’s own standards:
“We are continually talking to other countries to settle on matches for the team. At the moment we still hope that the ICC will insist on the teams to play us. We would really wish that our participation in engagements with Zimbabwe would become a permanent fixture for us. Reciprocal visits should be encourages at all levels.”
“We at Cricket Kenya sympathise with our Zimbabwean brethren in that a strong Zimbabwe would build a strong Kenya. We would like to see a lot more interactions between the two of us in order to support our causes at the ICC.”
Can’t argue with that sentiment…
Zimbabwe Independent - Zimbabwe Cricket Bids To Fill India Void
Northerns secured the Logan Cup title with a thumping innings and 98 run win over Centrals at Kwekwe Sports Club. The result means they end the tournament with an unbeaten record. Brendan Taylor’s 150* and Ishmael Senzere’s 131, his maiden hundred, led Northerns’ charge to 493/7 before their innings was declared. Senzere and Alois Tichana got the innings off to a flier with an opening stand of 193, and then Taylor flayed a tired and dispirited attack while the in-form Ray Price chipped in with a late fifty.
Centrals provided very little in the way of opposition. Scoring just 158 in their first innings, they were forced to follow on while still 335 short of Northerns’ total, and although they did slightly better second time round (scoring 237), none of their batsmen were able to play the dominant innings needed - 5 of their batsmen reached the 30’s, with Innocent Chikunya and S Gupos sharing the top score on 35, but no-one was able to press on past there, leaving them far short of the required score. Scorecard below the cut.
Northerns 493/7 decl (Taylor 150*, Chinouya 2/67), Centrals 158 (Mire 42*, Manyumwa 3/24) & 237 (following on; Gupos 35, Chikunya 35, Price 3/40) by an innings and 98 runs.
More later.
Continue reading ‘Northerns Secure Logan Cup Title’
Southerns claimed their first win of the Logan Cup with a comprehensive win over Westerns, whose lacklustre form continues. Westerns batted first on the opening day, putting on a first-innings total of 192, with Bradley Staddon top-scoring with 48 and Chamu Chibhabha taking an impressive 4/25 for the visitors. Southerns went on to set the first-innings pace, scoring 272 to take an 80-run lead at the halfway point. Richmond Mutumbami knocked a very useful 64, while Staddon boosted his all-rounder credentials with 2/27 to lead the Westerns bowling figures.
In the second innings, Westerns improved their tally slightly with a total of 215. Once again Staddon was the best of the batsmen with 64 with Robertson Chinyengetere also contributing a welcome half-century (58), but with Southerns left needing 136 to win they were facing an uphill battle, and sure enough the visitors rattled off the required runs for the loss of just one wicket.
The loss leaves Westerns rooted to the bottom of the Logan Cup table - not where they would have wanted to be after the impressive performances of the side in recent years. Southerns, initially considered the weakest side in this year’s tournament, now have a chance of finishing 3rd if results in the final round go their way. Full scorecard for this match is below the cut.
Southerns 272 (Mutumbami 64, Staddon 2/27) & 137/1 (Chibhabha 73*, Mupariwa 1/27) beat Westerns 192 (Staddon 48, Chibhabha 4/25) & 215 (Staddon 64, Charumbira 3/39) by 9 wickets.
Continue reading ‘Southerns Claim First Logan Cup Win’
Scores at close of Day Three in the current Logan Cup matches:
Northerns 493/7 decl (Taylor 150*, Chinouya 2/67), Centrals 158 (Mire 42*, Manyumwa 3/24) & 190/5 (following on; Gupo 35, Chikunya 35)
Westerns 192 (Staddon 48, Chibhabha 4/25) & 191/7 (Staddon 64, Charumbira 2/35), Southerns 272 (Mutumbami 64, Staddon 2/27)
Scores at close of Day Two:
Northerns 493/7 decl (Taylor 150*, Chinouya 2/67), Centrals 114/6 (Waller 27)
Westerns 192 (Staddon 48, Chibhabha 4/25), Southerns 212/6 (Mutumbami 64, Ntuli 2/38)
Both 4th round matches are currently underway - here are the latest scores, at stumps on Day One:
Northerns 308/2 (Senzere 131, Waller 1/36), Centrals yet to bat
Westerns 192 (Staddon 48, Chibhabha 4/25), Southerns 10/0 (Rizhibowa 7*, Machiri 3*)
In his latest effort to persuade ZC to allow him to return to the fold, Mark Vermeulen has reportedly offered to help meet the costs of rebuilding the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy. The Academy’s buildings were burnt down by Vermeulen in an arson attack - he was later cleared of responsibility due to mental illness, which he suffered partly as a result of head injuries received while playing for Zimbabwe.
Since his acquittal, Vermeulen has made no secret of his desire to return to the national side, but despite being one of the best players in this season’s National League (where he captained Old Hararians), there’s been no call-up to any ZC-sanctioned side. Speaking to the Zimbabwe Independent, Vermeulen said:
“I’m jobless at the moment, the only job I can do is playing cricket. I’ve kindly asked ZC to give me my job back, then I will give a percentage of my earning towards rebuilding of the Academy.”
It appears Westerns were willing to allow him to play for them this season, but the required approval from ZC wasn’t forthcoming.
Zimbabwe Independent - Vermeulen Offers To Rebuild Academy
After laying into ZC’s financial woes, the Sunday Mail has another piece, this time looking at what ZC are doing to help the national side on their way back to Test cricket. Supported by quotes from coach Robin Brown, their line seems to be that it’s not time yet (although it seems ZC forgot to tell them that the India tour has been cancelled). Asked on if he thought the current side was ready, Brown was quite clear:
“I don’t think we’re anywhere near there yet. I think the more of these four-day games we play the better we’ll get. There has been an improvement. The concentration levels are rising; the bowlers are bowling better lines. But I don’t think you become a Test player over 12 games. County players are playing that in a season and will have played quite a few more before they reach Test level.
“”I think [repeated heavy defeats] knocks the confidence. I really do. I think you’ve got to get guys in the top six making hundreds on a regular basis before thrusting them into Test cricket and we haven’t been doing that.
“I don’t think our local league helps us. The talent is spread too wide with 14 first league sides which is too many given that we don’t have 150 to 160 first-class players. When you haven’t got anyone aged 25 to 30 playing for you (aside from Gary Brent and Ray Price), there’s a missed generation there. Those are the guys that should be playing league. Your Stuart Carlisles and Trevor Grippers and teaching the guys as they go along. But suddenly you take all of that experience out of the way and expect these guys to fill the breach with no playing experience. It makes it hard. It’s unfair to expect them to fill that gap straight away.”
Nice to see that the coach is honest and not completely towing the party line. The plan still seems to be for Zim to return to Test cricket against Sri Lanka later in the year, but with no cricket currently scheduled between the end of May and the Sri Lanka tour, that’s surely still too soon.
Sunday News - Is Zim ready for Test status?
Defending champions Easterns kept in touch with log leaders Northerns with a convincing 385-run win over Centrals at Mutare Sports Club. Easterns’ batting, led by Hamilton Masakadza’s 205-ball 117 (and back by a useful 67 in the second innings), was the difference between the sides - but it was fireworks from Forster Mutizwa which lit up the game. The 22-year-old clubbed 102 from 92 balls with 13 fours and four sixes during the second innings as Easterns set a huge target of 492 for the visitors. In their innings, Centrals mustered 169 and 107, with Prosper Utseya (5/28) doing the damage in their first innings and Steady Musoso (5/43) in their second. Brighton Mugochi was one of Centrals’ few highlights, taking 8/158 in the match.
The win leaves Easterns in with a shout of overhauling Northerns to retain their title. Easterns have a bye week this week while Northerns face Centrals - if Northerns win that match it’s all over, but if they lose, then Easterns’ final match (against Westerns beginning on 17th May) will suddenly gain a lot more significance. Full scorecard for this match is below the cut.
Easterns 294 (H Masakadza 117, Mugochi 5/69) & 367/8 decl (Mutizwa 102, Mugochi 3/89), Centrals 169 (Chauluka 84, Utseya 5/28) & 107 (Chauluka 30, Musoso 5/43). Easterns win by 385 runs.
Continue reading ‘Easterns Claim Win Over Centrals’
Gary Brent’s all-round exploits led Northerns to an innings and 92-run win against Southerns at Harare Sports Club, in a match that was tied up inside two days. Southerns were bowled out for 141 on the first day but fought back well to reduce Northerns to 87/5 at the close - but Brent (51) and Ray Price (89) rescued the innings with a 133-run partnership for the ninth wicket to boost Northerns to 275, giving them a first-innings lead of 134. In reply, Southerns were blown away for just 42 in an innings that barely lasted an hour, with Brent 5/21) removing the top four to get the rot going, while Price and Graeme Cremer chipped in with two apiece. Only Jemton Chinyengetere (12) reached double-figures for Southerns, with five of their batsmen leaving with no score.
The win leaves Northerns sitting pretty on top of the Logan Cup table with one match to play, and with Easterns being the only side with a realistic chance of catching them. Scorecard below the cut.
Southerns 141 (Mawhire 44, Manyumwa 3/14) & 42 (J Chinyengetere 12, Brent 5/21), Northerns 275 (Price 89, Kamungozi 3/38). Northerns win by an innings and 92 runs.
Continue reading ‘Northern Thrash Southerns to Maintain Logan Cup Lead’