BOSSO SEEK AWAY WIN
HIGHLANDERS invade Ascot Stadium in Gweru this afternoon for a tie against relegation fighting Chapungu United looking for their first win in three matches to keep their top four dream alive.
Bosso have been terrible travellers and last won on the road against Triangle United in July, while their last three games have ended with no wins. Today’s encounter comes hard on the heels of a 1-2 defeat to Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday in a game they surrendered an early lead to allow Amakhosi to claw back into the game and claim a win.
Set to miss in action is the duo of Tendai and Mbongeni Ndlovu, who are both suspended.
“We will travel to Gweru without the suspended duo of Tendai Ndlovu and Mbongeni Ndlovu,” posted the club on its Twitter account. Skipper, Honest Moyo, who has been relegated to the bench by the young Mbongeni, will be back in action in the left-back role, so will be midfielder Adrian Silla, who missed the defeat to City due to an ankle injury. In the absence of Tendai in central defence, coach Madinda Ndlovu will drop Peter Muduhwa back to partner either Vincent Moyo or Andrew Mbeba, both promising youngsters who are comfortable with the ball. Ascot Stadium has not been an easy hunting ground for Bosso and they face a team that is also struggling to survive the dreaded chop. With Madinda recently telling the media that the remaining games are mainly for the players to fight for their contracts, those thrust into the starting line up would not want to be casualties. CHITTAGONG — Bangladesh won the second ODI cricket match against Zimbabwe at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong by seven wickets yesterday.
Earlier, Brendan Taylor top-scored with 75 as Zimbabwe made 246-7.
Asked to bat first in a must-win contest, Zimbabwe lost skipper Hamilton Masakadza (14) but Taylor, with two useful knocks from Sean Williams (47) and Sikandar Raza (49), guided the visitors to a competitive score. Taylor, who was reprieved on 42 by TV umpire after being given leg-before initially, struck nine fours and a six in his 73-ball innings. Young all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin claimed highest 3-45 for Bangladesh.
The home side won Sunday’s opening match of the series by 28-runs. The third and final match of the series will be held at the same ground on Friday.
In yesterday’s match, after the fast bowlers significantly slowed Zimbabwe down to a middling 246 for 7 — they looked set to double their score of 147 for 2 at the halfway mark — openers Liton Das and Imrul Kayes struck aggressive half-centuries to give Bangladesh a series win.
The pair added 148 to ensure Bangladesh’s passage was a smooth one, victory coming in the 45th over when Mohammad Mithun pulled a long hop for six to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Mohammad Saifuddin, playing in only his fourth ODI, left a mark with a three-wicket haul that bottled up pressure towards the end overs.
Then heavy dew made the ball greasy, thereby hampering Zimbabwe’s bowling plans. This played into the hands of the Bangladesh openers who shellacked their way towards the target, wiping off half the runs inside the first 25 overs, before Liton fell looking to hit inside-out. Beaten by turn and dip, he sliced a flighted delivery to point to fall for a 77-ball 83.
As Liton sped away, Imrul consolidated and was the recipient of a reprieve in the 24th over on 58 when Brendan Taylor put down a tough chance. But soon after Liton fell, Sikandar Raza then removed Fazle Mahmud for his second successive duck — he became fourth Bangladeshi to earn this unwanted feat in his first two ODIs. Having fluffed the opportunity on the first grab, Taylor somehow managed to complete the stumping.
Bangladesh recovered from that little spell quickly as Zimbabwe gifted Imrul another life on 71 when Mavuta dropped him at midwicket off Doland Tiripano. Mushfiqur and Imrul added 59 runs for the third wicket before the latter fell to Raza at long-off in the 38th over. Mushfiqur and Mohammad Mithun then added the remaining 36 runs for the fourth wicket, as Zimbabwe’s woeful 2018 continued.
But it could’ve been so different. Brendan Taylor started aggressively, picking off runs without playing a shot in anger. It seemed he was set, but all the build-up came crashing down when he played an inopportune reverse sweep to be dismissed on 75.
All along, Sean Williams was just pottering along, giving Taylor company before he realised the need to step up. He consolidated and was three short of a half-century when he bottom-edged a cut to the wicketkeeper to break a 41-run stand with Raza. This somewhat denied Zimbabwe a late flourish, even though Raza and PJ Moor stuck in and took the innings deep before a clutch of wickets threw them back. — Cricinfo THE four-time world champion told fans on Monday he had been diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago but was in remission.
But he says the leukaemia has returned which means he can no longer “be that fighting champion”.
Fans sent messages of support on social media and the hashtag #ThankYouRoman has been trending on Twitter. Roman, a former American football player, made the announcement in the ring at Monday Night Raw. Addressing the crowd, the 33-year-old said: “Y’all have made my dreams come true.
“It didn’t matter if you cheered me or you booed me, you’ve always reacted to me and that’s the most important thing and for that I have to say thank you so much.” Roman, real name Joe Anoa’i, told fans he wanted to make it clear that his announcement wasn’t a “retirement speech”. He said once he recovers from the leukaemia he will be “coming back home”. “When I do it’s not going to be just about titles or being on top. It’s about a purpose.” He added: “I will beat this and I will be back so you will see me very, very soon.” After his emotional address, he was given a hug by Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, his partners from The Shield wrestling group. Reigns is a four-time world champion having held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship three times and the Universal Championship once. — Yahoo