Good times return to club cricket PDF Print E-mail

By Austin Karonga, Sports Writer

Sunday, 11 March 2012 11:15

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HARARE - Harare Metropolitan Province Vigne Cup League resumes today with Zimbabwe Cricket contracted umpires and scorers returning to the domestic scene after almost a decade of absence.

Vigne Cup league administrators Mashonaland Eagles said that second round of matches will be played beginning today and is expected to be completed by April 21.

Outstanding matches from the initial round that where not played before the league went for a break last year in December will be decided during a clubs meeting this week.

Among the contracted umpires who will officiate in today’s matches are the no-nonsense Russell Tiffin, Owen Chirombe, Langton Rusere and Sifelani Rwaziyeni while the scorers include Robina Mzunguzika, Freeman Chogovera, Nyarai Manyande and former ladies cricket captain Julia Chibhabha.

Four matches are lined up today with log leaders Glenshire Cricket Club hoping to maintain their pole position when they play away to Takashinga 1 at Takashinga Sports Club.

Alexandra Sports Club host Takashinga 2 at Alex Sports Club while Old Hararians welcome Royal at their ground with Old Marlvenians playing host to Uprising at Old Haririans B field.

Mash Eagles aerial manager Dakarai Kuhlengisa confirmed that the seasoned umpires will be officiating in today’s matches.

“We have decided that the league resumes on a fresh leaf which is the second round and any other outstanding issues from round one will be discussed at meeting for the board and clubs sometime this week,” Kuhlengisa told the Daily News on Sunday.

“We are particularly pleased with the fact that experienced umpires contracted by ZC such as Russell Tiffin, Owen Chirombe and Jeremiah Matibiri among others will be handling all the Vigne Cup matches.

“They haven’t been able to take part in domestic league games for some time now due to commitments with either the franchise or national team assignments.”

Kuhlengisa said that the presence of these experienced officials was set to improve the standards of the local game as well as saving ZC of expenditure since they will be no longer outsourcing umpiring and scoring services.

“We are very pleased that the level of the game is set to improve greatly with the coming on board of experienced personnel and administratively this means that we no longer have to fork out additional money to pay budding scorers and umpires as we used to do.

“These contracted officials are already on the pay roll of ZC and as such will be going about their business as usual.”

This week’s meeting will also look at possibilities of hosting the shorter version of cricket Twenty20, reintroduction of the national league, winter cricket among other issues.

Fixtures:

First League:

Old Hararians vs Royal (OH)

Takashinga 1 vs Glenshire (Takashinga Sports Club).

Alexandra Sports Club vs Takashinga 2 (Alex Sports Club)

Old Marlvenians vs Uprising (Old Hararians B Ground)

Second League

Centurions vs Eagles (Vainona High School)

Immaculate vs Gladiators

Alex 2 vs OH 2 (Alex B ground)

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/sp ... icket.html