The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER a disastrous Logan Cup first class cricket campaign which saw them finish the season without a win in the longer format of the game, Tuskers will look to turn things around when the Pro50 Championship starts on Saturday.
Under the mentorship of national team bowling coach Douglas Hondo, Tuskers had a terrible Logan Cup, which saw them finish without even a single win in the country’s premier first class cricket competition.
With just two draws, one no result and three defeats from the six matches they played in the Logan Cup, Tuskers ended at the bottom of the log with just 16 points. A huge defeat, by 223 runs to three times in a row champions Mountaineers at Harare Sports Club yesterday summed up what has been a pathetic season for the lads from Bulawayo.
Playing all the six matches in Harare did not help Tuskers as they did not get to enjoy playing in familiar conditions in front of their home fans at Queens Sports Club. Logistical challenges saw Tuskers being forced to play all their Logan Cup matches at Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians.
Hondo will certainly be hoping that a change in the format of the game can bring about a transformation in fortunes for Tuskers who take on Rhinos in back to back fixtures at Queens Sports Club on Saturday and Sunday.
Top order batsman Brian Chari is also expected to take over the captaincy for the shorter version of the game with off spinner John Nyumbu having been the Logan Cup skipper.
National team all rounder Sean Williams, who has away in the Bangladesh Premier League is available in what should be a boost for Tuskers as they seek a quick turnaround from a disastrous Logan Cup.
Tuskers last won the Pro50 Championship in the 2016/17 season when they clobbered Eagles by nine wickets in the final played at Harare Sports Club.
Last season, Tuskers won four of the eight matches they played to finish third in a competition which had five teams. Rising Stars, not part of the domestic cricket structure this season went on to beat
Mountaineers by 144 runs in the final. — @Mdawini_29
