National League
November 2007 - January 2008
Champions: Takashinga
Runner-up: Bulawayo Athletic Club
The 2007-08 National League featured many twists and turns, none more suprising than Kadoma Sports Club's berth in the semi-finals. This National League season was the first to feature 2-day matches. In past seasons all games were 50 over a side affairs, but in an effort to prepare players for Logan Cup and Test cricket Zimbabwe Cricket opted to allow teams to have 2 innings.
The preliminary round involved each team playing twice in total, resulting in a total of 8 matches. After the preliminary 8 matches were played, the top 4 ranked teams progressed to the semi finals, with the first ranked team playing the fourth ranked team, and the second ranked team playing the third ranked team. Winners of each semi final progressed to the final.
Overall, only Takashinga and Bulawayo Athletic Club dominated the competition. Old Hararians performed below everyone's expectations, and even the inclusion of star batsman Mark Vermeulen wasn't enough to give them a semi final berth.
No man of the series was publicly annouced the for National League, although Mark Vermeulen (Old Hararians) and Freedom Takarusenga (Bulawayo Athletic Club) were among the leagues outstanding players.
Teams
Alexandra Sports Club, Bulawayo Athletic Club, Harare Sports Club, Kadoma Sports Club, Kwekwe Sports Club, Old Hararians, Mutare Sports Club, Takashinga.
Controversy
Mark Vermeulen set fire to Harare Sports Club and the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy in 2006, and part of his bail conditions were that he could not play at either of these cricket venues. This affected Vermeulen for much of the Vigne Cup and National League season until his bail conditions were relaxed. He was later cleared.
In the National League semi final, Tinashe Hove, the Bulawayo Athletic Club opener, scored 44. He was unceremoniously dropped from the team for the series final against Takashinga. No explanation was ever given as to why.
Match results
Game 1: Bulawayo Athletic Club def. Mutare Sports Club
Game 2: Kwekwe Sports Club def. Kadoma Sports Club
Game 3: Harare Sports Club def. Alexandra Sports Club
Game 4: Takashinga def. Old Hararians
Game 5: Kadoma Sports Club def. Alexandra Sports Club
Game 6: Old Hararians def. Mutare Sports Club
Game 7: Takashinga def. Bulawayo Athletic Club
Game 8: Harare Sports Club def. Kwekwe Sports Club
Points table:
|---------------------------------------|
| # Team Pl W L |
|---------------------------------------|
| 1. Takashinga 2 2 0 |
| 2. Harare Sports Club 2 2 0 |
| 3. Bulawayo Athletic Club 2 1 1 |
| 4. Kadoma Sports Club 2 1 1 |
|---------------------------------------|
| 5. Kwekwe Sports Club 2 1 1 |
| 6. Old Hararians 2 1 1 |
| 7. Mutare Sports Club 2 0 2 |
| 8. Alexandra Sports Club 2 0 2 |
|---------------------------------------|
Semi Final: Takashinga drew with Kadoma Sports Club (due to rain)
Semi Final: Harare Sports Club vs Bulawayo Athletic Club (abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain)
Semi Final replay: Takashinga def. Kadoma Sports Club
Semi Final replay: Bulawayo Athletic Club def. Harare Sports Club
Final: Takashinga (338, S. Mwakayeni 135) def. Bulawayo Athletic Club (6/276, F. Takarusenga 95)
Takashinga were the champions of the 2007-08 National League. The final match was affected by rain, which ultimately destroyed Bulawayo Athletic Club's chances of winning.
Squads
Takashinga: Elton Chigumbura, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingi Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Eric Chauluka, Tendai Chisoro, Douglas Hondo, Stewart Matsika, Tendai Machiri, Taurai Muzarabani, Brian Sanyika, Sammy Mwakayeni, Trevor Garwe, Alaster Maregwede, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Johnson Marumisa, Timycen Maruma, Prosper Utseya, Brian Sanyika, Philemon Kadzitye, Forster Mutizwa
Bulawayo Athletic Club: Matthew Williams, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tafadzwa Ngulube, John Nyumbu, Freedom Takarusenga, Tinashe Hove, Bonaparte Mujuru, Tafadzwa Madhiri, Mark Mabuza, Brian Mukondiwa, Bradley Staddon, Khawulani Ntuli, Kendrick Moyo, E Mwanza
Kadoma Sports Club (incomplete): Edward Rainsford, Friday Kasteni, Tendai Chaeruka, Simbarashe Gupo, Innocent Chinyoka
Old Hararians: Mark Vermeulen (captain), Vusi Sibanda, Craig Ervine, Ryan Ervine, Piet Rinke, Prosper Utseya, Ryan Butterworth, Alex Mlambo, Tafadzwa Mufambisi, Victor Chaitezvi, H Harineki, E Rioga, Mohammad Sad Khan, Nyasha Chari
Harare Sports Club (incomplete): Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Gary Brent, David Mutendera, Mark Mbofana, Tendayi Mashonganyika, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Raymond Price, Graeme Cremer, Keegan Meth
Alexandra Sports Club (incomplete): Taurai Matikwa
Mutare Sports Club (incomplete): Silent Mujaji, Steady Musoso
Kwekwe Sports Club (incomplete): Simbarashe Gupo, Washington Nzira, Alexander Mavhiko, Remembrance Nyathi