From The Pavilion

Match 1 v Scotland

A great 38 run victory against a very good Scotland side. Craig Coen top scored with an unbeaten 100, Derek Denholm 93, and Christo Mosehle 57. Denholm completed his excellent day by taking 3 wickets.


Match 2 v Pakistan

Another win although alot closer than we would have liked, won by 2 wickets.
Tinashe Maraire led the line taking 4 for 46 but well supported by Jimmy Letwaba, 3 for 33. Although all the bowlers did well which is in total contrast to our batsmen who had a mass collapse with us being 23-4 at one stage but Pietre Gardner steadied the ship with an unbeaten 86 to secure victory

Match 3 v England

A disappointing 14 run defeat in a game in which we always looked in control until a late batting collapse where we lost 6 wickets for just 31 runs. Christo Mosehle top scored with 66.

Match 4 v Kenya

Well this was always going to be a tight game against our promotion rival but I didnt realise how close. It looked all over when Kenya were 179-5 needing 17 runs off 8 overs but our bowlers stepped up taking 5 wickets for only 12 runs grabbing victory out of the jaws of defeat. S Ngam took 4 for 48 but M Scanes and E Mjekula both took 2 wickets each at the death so need a special mention.

12 points on the board and NRR in hand should be enough unless we get hammered by Ireland and Kenya beat the already promoted England.

Match 5 v Ireland

Disaster, bowled out for just 135 which was an extremely poor show by the whole team. Ireland easily reached their target with 8 overs to spare. Kenya's victory over England means that we finish in our usual 3rd place.

Tour Summary

We won the bid to host tour as we could not play on spin pitches due to the lack of spinners available at the time of selection. Our preferred pitch was Green, we did not get to play on a Green pitch throughout the whole tour so did not have a chance to utilise our seamers to the full. A decent tour all in all but with a little luck, which we never seem to have, we would have promoted. Thanks to all managers for their continued support. 20/20 next, we need to retain our spot in Div 2 primarily and secondly look to promote.

Batsmen

Tendai Banda (Bats Eleven Doesnt Bowl cc)
Davison Flower (One Man Rock Band)
Christoffel Gerber (Harare Hammers)
Dumisa Gorowa (The Lynch Ninjas)
Regis Makhapela (Not Now Bernard)
Marcell Perrin (The Dross)
Rohan Hyde (Harare Hammers)

Keepers

Prince Letshela (Welby CC)
Jack Majoribanks (Aggressive Vegetables CC)

Bowlers

Toski Laird (Mohun Bagan)
Derek Denholm (The Breed)
Steven Ngam (Challengers I.C.T)
Moaner Scanes (Staindrop Village CC)
Ngonidzashe Chimbetu (Master Ducking Bouncer)
Jimmy Letwaba (VVV Cricket Club)
Rampie Morton (Not Now Bernard)
James Sekhoto (Sydnet Cricket Club)
Bongi Skinstad (Middle Stump Lubricators)

4 Green Pitches and 1 Uneven.....not unhappy about this as we have some decent seamers. Hopefully retain our spot in Div 2 at least, thank you and congratulations for your efforts in producing Zimbabwe Youths.

Batsmen

Mervyn Flynn (The Cricket Club)
Ryk Dilger (Lincolnshire cc)
Christoffel Gerber (Harare Hammers)
Sikhanyiso Zuma (Screaming Demons)
Regis Makhapela (Not Now Bernard)
Marcell Perrin (The Dross)
Rohan Hyde (Harare Hammers)

Keepers

Prince Letshela (Welby CC)
Jack Majoribanks (Aggressive Vegetables CC)

Bowlers

Toski Laird (Mohun Bagan)
Brian Mnguni (Indian Tigers)
Scott Berrie (Staindrop Village)
Jacko Brewis (Harare Hammers)
Ngonidzashe Chimbetu (Master Ducking Bouncer)
Jimmy Letwaba (VVV Cricket Club)
Ashley McCormick (Knight Watchmen)
Paddy Perraton (Newball Slappers)
Lwando Phiri (Justice For The 96)

Finally something went right for us.. After numerous 3rd places in tours we, with a little luck I know, finally made Div 1 in Twenty 20.

This didnt look likely after losing to the eventual league winners England and a really surprising defeat by Ireland (rated 10k lower) but 3 great wins and with Ireland losing to England on last day we made it.

This was probably the best and deepest batting lineup we have had during my time but we lacked spinners so I had to take the chance on winning hosting the tour and going on Uneven, Green and Hard pitches.

Thanks to all you managers for your support .....lets see if we can do the same in One Day

Batsmen

Forward Mujuru (Kato11)
Albert Robins (Germantown Cricket Club)
Torsten Braine (Staindrop Village CC)
Oliver Masingata (Vegas Venoms)
Onismor Matore (VVV Cricket Club)
Trevor Wegemund (Staindrop Rockets)
Derick Lsotsobe (Golden Eagle)

Keepers

Honour Masakela (Newball Slappers)
Jurgen Pearsall (TTTHG)


Bowlers

Derek Jackson (Moorlands Radio)
Raymond Pope (Mekerz Tanks)
Jacko Brewis (Harare Hammers)
Enoch Mabuza (Staindrop Village CC)
Corrie Klaaste (Kudos XI)
Paddy Perraton (Newball Slappers)
Timycen Nyathi (Spag Bowlers)
Abongile Chauluka (The Rampaging Rhinos)
James Sekhoto (Sydney Cricket Club)

Batsmen

Oliver Masingata (Vegas Venoms)
Bruce Grobelaar (Berkshire CCC)
Washaington Kaseke (Staindrop Cheetahs)
Bernard Mahlangu (Dark Knight Rises)
Michael Mlambo (VinciesSpinners)
Rilee Bowley (Freshcut CC)
Biff Dolman (Kudos XI)

Keepers

Jurgen Pearsall (TTTHG)
Jeremiah Phanigso (Dark Knight Rises)

Bowlers

Derek Jackson (Moorlands Radio)
Peter Majaivana (The Dross)
Teboho Kamungozi (VVV Cricket Club)
Corrie Klaaste (Kudos XI)
Morne Trowse (Newball Slappers)
Alester Baloyi (Not Now Bernard)
Deon Krog (Not Now Bernard)
Alan Siggs (VVV Cricket Club)
Anzlom Manzini (East Kent Orangemen)

Best of luck! I was involved many years ago on an old account with Zimbabwe U20's so will be following you guys!

Hey, We have just welcomed Eepan onto the management team. Eepan was involved with Zimbabwe a few years ago and knows his stuff. He will be providing information on U18s mainly, trying to ensure that we get the best out of players potential. Please welcome him and hopefully his experience will benefit future squads.

Cheers epcguy! Yep under my old user name beng444 we had some fun, so im looking forward to helping out Zim youth once again, especially as looking through the prospects their are some familiar names knocking around training some gems! Looking forward to helping!

Match 1 v Bangladesh

A great start to the tour with a victory by 32 runs. Oliver Masingata top scored with 58 after Washington Kaseke opened with an impressive 43 on a crumbling pitch. We were all out for 217 but our bowlers all chipped in with wickets, the best figures being 3 for 41 by Allrounder Peter Majaivana. Our keeper Jurgen Pearsall had a great day taking 1 catch, 2 stumpings and a run out after he had scored 22 off 19 balls.

Match 2 v Kenya

What a bowling display by the boys, restricting Kenya to 126 all out, everyone chipped in with wickets but Anzlom Manzini took the most 3 for 27. Whilst the best had to be Derek Jackson's figure of 2 for 9. A partnership of 79 by Biff Dolman (48) and Bernard Mahlangu (38) set us on the road to victory winning by 6 wickets.

Match 3 v Canada

Not our best day....We struggled on an Uneven pitch, our Fast bowlers were put to the sword by Canada's batsmen scoring 295 and then their bowlers decimated our long batting line-up bowling us out for 140. Rilee Bowley top scoring with 45. Disappointing but we are still in a good position but our game tomorrow against New Zealand is make or break


I am not going to bore you with match facts but basically this has been a disaster and alot of strange results. We looked strong winning the first 2 games and so did New Zealand who looked odds on to go up as winners but results did not go as they looked like they should and neither team promoted. We had a strong contingent of spinners, our fasties ok but we lacked Med pace bowlers, none available at the required standard. I believe the lack of variety on Crumbling Humid pitches was our downfall. Onwards and upwards though. Div 1 20/20 next.

Desperately unlucky to see the side finish the tour like that.

Ensures that our div 3 OD curse continues!

We will all work hard to break it soon!

Batsmen

Oliver Masingata (Vegas Venoms)
Vaughn Gorringe (Staindrop Rockets)
Bruce Grobelaar (Berkshire CCC)
Excellent Mutizwa (Legend Super Chicken Samurai)
Bryan Whitty (VVV Cricket Club)
Rilee Bowley (FreshCut CC)
Biff Dolman (Kudos)

Keepers

Forward Kamungozi (The Bloodhounds)
Callie Vanderplank (Staindrop Rockets)

Bowlers

Derek Jackson (Moorlands Radio)
Teboho Kanungozi (VVV Cricket Club)
Viyusa Nyathi (SaMurRai XI)
Morne Trowse (Newball Slappers)
Alester Baloyi (Not Now Bernard)
Dean Krog (Not Now Bernard)
Tendai Plummer (Berkshire CCC)
Anzlom Manzini (East Kent Orangemen)
Ephat Murambadaro (Ragnar)


First target is to retain our place in Div 1. A good tour could see us have a crack at winning it but thats just a dream.

Well what a week so far. I set a goal of avoiding relegation, that has happened. With 3 wins out of 4 matches if we avoid defeat against Scotland in the next game we will actually win Div 1.

Believe me I am shocked as I didnt think the squad was deep enough.

T20 champions. What an achievement