Hove return cannot save Southerns

Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on May 31, 2008

Former Zimbabwe A batsman Tinashe Hove made his domestic return this week at the Country Club, after having not played any league cricket since the semi final of the National League for Bulawayo Athletic Club, after which he was controversially dropped. Turning his back on Bulawayo, Hove moved to Harare where he has been reported to have been playing club cricket.

Now turning out for Southerns, made up of Masvingo and Matabeleland South - but like most provinces, really on players imported from Harare - Hove's return did not save the team from a humiliating defeat.

All out for just 74 batting first, only Innocent Chinyoka, Chamu Chibhabha and Hove himself reached double figures, Trevor Garwe took 3/19, while the in-form Graeme Cremer also managed 2 wickets himself. Ray Price incredibly bowled 4 maidens, ending with figures of 4-4-0-0.

The returning Tatenda Taibu, back from the IPL in India, added 38 runs, while Regis Chakabva boosted his average with an unbeaten 10 to lead the team to an 8 wicket win.

At Harare Sports Club, Westerns didn't fare much better than Southerns, dismised for just 90. Bradley Staddon and Tafadzwa Ngulube, two stars of Westerns poor Logan Cup campaign, have failed to translate their good form to the 50 over game, making just 1 and 6 respectively. Keegan Meth made his first runs of the competition, but only Keith Dabengwa wth 26, added a score of substance. The next highest score came from the extras column, of which there were 22. Due to the poor opening performances during this tournament, it leaves the door open for opening batsman Freedom Takarusenga to play his first match of the series.

Steady Musoso was impressive with the ball, taking 3/21, while Shingi Masakadza is still impressing with 2/20.

Prosper Utseya opened the batting as an experiment for Easterns, but this didn't last long - clean bowled by Chris Mpofu for a first ball duck.

Stuart Matsikenyeri and Hamilton Masakadza chased down the total, with an unbeaten 51 and 31 respectively.

Meanwhile, the rumour mill is working overtime after whispers that Brendan Taylor is considering retiring from Zimbabwe cricket if he is not granted leave, as Tatenda Taibu was with the IPL, to play club cricket in Europe, after his father Graham Taylor spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent. There is a widespread feeling that upon the completion of the Faithwear series on June 2, ZC will relax their stance on players going overseas.

At the end of the 3rd round, Northerns lead the point table.

	Team		M	W	L	Pts
	Northerns	3	2	1	11
	Easterns	2	1	1	7
	Centrals	2	1	1	6
	Westerns	2	1	1	6
	Southerns	3	1	2	6