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Brandon Moyo, Brandonmalvin9@gmail.com
TUSKERS will be out to make maximum use of home advantage and get back to winning ways when they play host to Midwest Rhinos in a Pro50 Championship match scheduled for Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) on Wednesday.
The Bulawayo side have won one of their opening four matches in the Pro50 Championship this season, losing twice, while the other game yielded no result.
Tuskers will fancy their chances against Rhinos, whom they beat by three wickets in the opening game of the season at Kwekwe Sports Club in October last year. Following that win in Kwekwe, Tuskers went on to suffer a 246-run defeat at the hands of Eagles.
They then lost a Super Over thriller against Mega Market Mountaineers in December last year before their latest match against Southern Rocks at the beginning of the month was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Only one point separates Tuskers, who anchor the log standings and Rhinos, who are sitting in second place on the table. Tuskers have three points, while their upcoming opponents have four, trailing log leaders Southern Rocks by one point.
Rhinos are tied on four points with Eagles and Mega Market Mountaineers, who are in positions three and four, respectively. Only net run rate separates them. While Tuskers lock horns with Rhinos at BAC, Eagles will be up against log leaders Southern Rocks.
Tuskers received a boost with the return of experienced fast bowler Ernest Masuku from injury. Masuku made his return to the team in their previous Logan Cup encounter against Southern Rocks last week.
The 32-year-old seamer’s last List A match was in November of last year against Eagles. His addition to the team will be a timely boost for the side that is looking to put behind them their three-match winless streak.
After the completion of the Pro50 Championship match, next up will be a Logan Cup game also pitting the two teams. It will be played at the city’s ceremonial home of cricket, Queens Sports Club, starting on Friday.
Tuskers are still yet to taste victory in the Logan Cup, losing two and drawing as many games in their opening four encounters.
They lost their first two games against Rhinos (by five wickets) and Eagles (by innings and 20 runs) before going on to play out draws against Mega Market Mountaineers and Southern Rocks.
Their last Logan Cup match was against Southern Rocks and only two days of cricket were played, with rain interrupting proceedings on other days.
Mega Market Mountaineers sit at the top of the Logan Cup standings with 80 points from two wins and as many draws, followed by Rhinos on 74 points with two wins, one defeat and one draw. In third place are Southern Rocks with 55 points from four draws, while Eagles are fourth with 52 points accumulated from one win and one draw. They have two losses to their name.
Tuskers anchor the standings with 37 points, having secured two draws and two defeats.
Both the Logan Cup and Pro50 Championship matches are free of charge to all spectators and fans have been urged to come in their numbers.— @brandon_malvin
