ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2017

Zimbabwe in 2016/17 Zimbabwe’s aspirations to improve their standards and their distant last-place ranking at Test level continue to be hindered by the sparseness of their Test programme. They played three Tests in 2016/17 and 2017, all against Sri Lanka – a two-match home series in October and November 2016 and then, after a break of over eight months, a single match in Colombo. There were definite signs of greater competitiveness than of late, especially at Colombo, but without their players being able to gain experience in a more extensive and more challenging programme, a move up the rankings is still some considerable way away. In the two Tests at Harare, although heavily defeated they at least had the satisfaction of bowling out their opponents once in each match, something they had not achieved in either of their two previous Tests. At Colombo they went one better and secured a first-innings lead, for the first time in 11 Tests going back to September 2013. When Sri Lanka were set 388 in the fourth innings to win, a Zimbabwe victory was a distinct possibility, but in the end Sri Lanka reached their target with four wickets in hand. Over the three games there were some impressive performances from the captain Graeme Cremer, with a maiden Test century and a total of 20 wickets, and there was also a century apiece from Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza; but there was little sign of newcomers who might provide added strength in either batting or bowling. Perhaps that is at least partly the fault of the troubled domestic programme, dogged yet again by disagreements over the players’ pay and conditions. Nevertheless, in the end a full programme of Logan Cup matches was completed, bar three fixtures lost to rain. The franchise system that had been in place for seven years was dispensed with, and the four former franchise teams were renamed, while retaining their distinctive suffixes: Mashonaland Eagles became Harare Metropolitan Eagles, Matabeleland Tuskers became Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers, Mid West Rhinos became Midlands Rhinos, and Mountaineers became Manicaland Mountaineers. The final table for the competition had an upside-down look to it, with the Harare and Bulawayo sides uncharacteristically in third and fourth places, while unbeaten Manicaland took the title by a distance. The docking of points from Midlands and Bulawayo in the unhappy circumstances noted on page 606 made no difference to those teams’ final positions. Leading the runscorers and wicket-takers in the domestic season were two players who both represented Midlands and the national side: Peter Moor, with 508 runs at 42.33, and Graeme Cremer with 33 wickets at 22.09. In the Logan Cup alone the leaders both came from the successful Manicaland XI: Kevin Kasuza (446 runs at 44.60) and Natsai M’shangwe (24 wickets at 21.58). (KSW) Logan Cup 2016/17: Final table P W WLF L LWF DWF DLF ND A Adj Pts 7 6 0 1 3 2 2 2 1 Manicaland Mountaineers 9 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 39 2 Midlands Rhinos 9 3 0 3 0 0 2 0 1 -5 22 3 Harare Metropolitan Eagles 9 1 0 2 0 1 2 1 2 0 20 4 Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers 9 1 0 3 1 1 0 2 1 -5 12 Adjustments Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers: 5 points deducted for for failing to take the field on the final day in the match against Midlands Rhinos on 18 December 2016 Midlands Rhinos: 5 points deducted for for failing to take the field on the final day in the match against Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers on 18 December 2016 Abandoned matches: Manicaland Mountaineers v Harare Metropolitan Eagles, Mutare Sports Club, Mutare, 18, 19, 20, 21 December. Rain. Harare Metropolitan Eagles v Midlands Rhinos, Harare Sports Club, Harare, 17, 18, 19, 20 January. Rain. Manicaland Mountaineers v Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers, Mutare Sports Club, Mutare, 17, 18, 19, 20 January. Rain. 601