The ManicaPost
Takudzwa Manzero
Sports Reporter
MANICALAND-BASED cricket franchise Mountaineers’ coach Njabulo Ncube has backed his charges to mount a spirited challenge for the Logan Cup title.
The Mountaineers have been emulating their 2022 Pro-50 Championship tenacity with both the bat and ball following breathtaking performances in the ongoing tournament.
Speaking after defeating the Southern rocks in an entertaining Logan Cup 2022-2023 fixture at the Harare Sports Club last week, Ncube said they are raring to go all the way and clinch gold.
“Our draw against Eagles and win against Southern Rocks gave us confidence going further into the Logan Cup competition.
“Most of our batters are starting to convert which is good and our bowlers have been consistent in applying pressure and getting wickets. I hope the fans will continue supporting us and hopefully we will keep delivering. I expect us to be consistent which will be key in our quest to win the Logan Cup,” he said.
The latest victory saw the Mountain Goats ranked second on the Logan Cup table behind the Alliance Health Eagles.
The past three matches have produced mixed fortunes for the team, but Ncube’s charges turned their fortune around in the last match of the year after an incredible display in Harare.
After the Southern Rocks won the toss and opted to field, the Mountaineers were restricted to 176 all out before their opponents scored 190 all out to lead by 14 runs during the tightly contested first innings of the match.
The Mountain Goats proved their mettle when they caught their second wind in the second inning through an impressive batting performance of in-form batsman, Ben Compton who scored a gigantic 217 runs alongside Joylord Gumbie’s 108, plus Tinashe Muchawaya’s 48 to post a formidable score of 468/9 before they declared.
For such an immense contribution, Compton was awarded the man of the match for his 45 and 217 runs during the match.
The South Africa-born left handed batsman has taken little time to adjust and morph into formidable top order batsman.
Ncube described Compton as a role model for the franchise’s youngsters.
He added: “He keeps his game simple. He bats long and he hits the ball on the ground and he knows how to score hundreds. He contributes a lot in the changing room.”
Veteran bowler, Donald Tiripano signalled the bowling response with a vicious right arm delivery that took out opening batsman, Innocent Kaia for only two runs before Muchawaya dismissed his partner for a duck off two balls.
From then, it became the Victor Nyauchi show as the dreadlocked right arm fast ran riot on the Rocks’ batting line-up, claiming an impressive five wicket haul to curtail a challenging partnership.
Ncube commented on the five wicket haul saying: “Victor Nyauchi has a big heart and a great skill. He is our bowling leader and he is always looking to do better through his mental toughness and passion. He was truly the day’s best player.”
Ncube revealed that the side’s latest victory was a dedication to the late Zimbabwe senior men’s cricket fielding coach and former Mountaineers’ coach, Shepherd “Sheppy ” Makunura who played a big role in setting competitive standards within the cricket fraternity.
Makunura died recently.
“We are still hurting. I think the best way to honour him is for Zimbabwe to keep winning games. That is what he always wanted. May his soul rest in Peace.”
