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Cricket

Around The Ground Report: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan 1st Test 2013 - Part 2

Coach Waller and his assistant Steve Mangongo have a chat as they walk around the field during play.
Castle one of the sponsors of the team.
Metbank seems to be the main sponsors of the grass embankments as they have banners and umbrellas all over the embankment.
Found some lucky bean seeds in my camera bag, but Zimbabwe would need more than luck to beat Pakistan.
A lone supporter relaxes in the shade.
An ICC official walking around the pitch.
The Harare Sports Club logo, that lion looks spooked!
No bins anywhere on the embankment, ZC needs to place some bins so people have no excuse for littering.
 A gust of wind blew the CrickShop away!
No home series is complete without the presence of Neil, Zimbabwes No.1 supporter.
The ICC anti corruption team sit behind the glasses under neath the umbrella.
Elton Chigumbura comes to collect a four with a big grin on his face!
Shingi Maskadza not so lucky as he is sledged by the crowd.
The pitch security seem more concerned about guarding the pitch and not enforcing the ICC rules on unruly supporters.
A dream scoreboard for Zimbabwe in any format of the game.
Grant Flower taking laps around the field at lunch and after the game on all three days that I was at the ground. Staying fit I guess.
Younis Khan prepares to play a shot on his way to 200.
Tinashe Panyangara made an impressive come back with some seriously miserly bowling. The way he bowled I didn't miss Kyle Jarvis.
The operator behind the manual scoreboard.
Harare Sports Club as seen from the grass embankment.
Our tourist friend had just finished rubbing some sun screen on his leg and am sure was hoping to take back a tan to his country of origin.
A beautiful sunset to wind down a good day of test cricket.
My sketchpad for taking down notes

Kyle Jarvis left for county cricket and refused to sign a contract with Zimbabwe Cricket. He was fed up with the off field battles with ZC. His decision though sad is understandable. And we can for see more taking up this option if it presented itself. Some were also called up from club cricket in the UK but they declined to come.

Around The Ground Report: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan 1st Test 2013 - Part 1

The ticket for the test series.
Chris Mpofu sitting at The Centurion Pub & Grill.
The CricShop had their stall at the grass embankment, selling various merchandise and cricket kit.
A yellow jersey? Havent seen this one yet. I wonder where this one came from?
The two umpires Steve Davis  from Australia and Ranmore Martinesz from Sri Lanka walk out for a day in the sun.
Steve Mangongo, assistant coach of the Zimbabwe national cricket team with the players as they stretch.
DJ McKenzie the behind the decks and announcements on the PA system.
Metbank one of the sponsors behind Zimbabwe cricket.
The corporate booth
Supersport camera man.
Mountaineers Tendai Chatara and Shingi Masakadza
Tendai Chatara in full stride. He was impressive with the ball.
A fan with an umbrella hat.
The team come together after the first wicket.
Not a single Zimbabwean company advertising at the players changing room.
Grant Flower stands in front of The Centurion bar & Grill formally the Keg and Maiden. Wonder if he was chatting up a maiden there?
Vendors selling snacks around the ground apparently pay $20 to sell their products!
The forgotten floodlights
Castle Corner looking fairly miserable
Michael Jordan in Zimbabwe at the cricket, sort of, kicked off my shoes to really relax.
A visitor to Zimbabwe studies a map of Zimbabwe while watching the game.

Zimbabwe started the series against Pakistan with a win in the first ODI and near misses in the remainder of the ODIs, of which I feel Zimbabwe were in a good position to win but seemed to lack the big game temperament. During the series there were threats to boycott the matches because of perennial payment issues. In years gone by the ZC board has had the upper hand and intimidated players but this time around the players formed a union and were ready to down tools. They refused to practice. Eventually a compromise was reached and all thats left is to see if ZC will honour their word.

Around The Ground Report: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan 3rd ODI

I arrived at the ground and was greeted by the new ticket
Mpofu and Coventry doing the water rounds.
The sleek new and improved Tino Mawoyo, after losing 16kgs! Looking good!
Guy falls off the rodeo Bull
Northcliffe Heights overlooks the cricket grounds, always thought it would be cool to live here and watch the games from 'home'
Some divas coming for a day at the games
Charles Coventary in the nets
Pitch preparation during lunch
Fan waving his flag
Neil, Harare Sports Clubs No.1 supporter.
Some dude giving taibu advice on how to play spin
Autographed shirt featuring Tatenda Taibu, Regis Chakabva and Grant Flower
Cool Pakistan supporter
Empty bar behind Castle Corner, a sure sign of the times!
At the new grass embankment
Vusi attempts a cover drive
Castle Corner Stand in the last session of the day with the supporters in full song
The small but lively Pakistan contigent
Zimbabwe Rugby Union sign looking out of place
ICC warning

Finally made it to Harare Sports Club (HSC) for the closing ODI against Pakistan. The last time I had watched a live cricket match at HSC was in 2008 when Sri Lanka came. I had never seen Lasith Malinga and Sri Lanka live and was looking forward to that but he was injured and Mahela Jayawardene was terribly out of form, good for Zim bad for cricket! Thats one of the ironies about cricket, you want to witness a sublime Jayawardene innings yet you don't want it to come against your own team! The last time I watched Pakistan was in 1992 which was my 'debut' for watching International cricket.

Around the Ground Report - Eagles vs Mountaineers Logan Cup, MSC 2011

Hamilton Masakadza in the middle
Foster Mutizwa prepares to play a shot
The Motoring club next door wasn’t fairing that well either
Part of the range of mountains surrounding Mutare
Shingi Masakadza, one of Mountaineers strike bolwers
Students from Mutare Polytechnic practising in the nets
On the boundary with the 'Mountaineers' text on the embankment
Nets at Mutare Sports Club

Mountaineers merchandise might not have been available at the ground but, I came across plenty of hats, jerseys, water bottles etc in most parts of Mutare carrying the Mountaineers logo. I have to admit the kit and promotional wear combination were on point and the guys look sleek, which gives a consistent and professional look to the team.

Hamilton Masakadza takes it easy at HIFA 2011

Hamilton Masakadza enjoying the Winky D concert at HIFA
Hamilton Masakadza enjoying the Winky D concert at HIFA
Hamilton Masakadza enjoying the Winky D concert at HIFA
Winky D on stage at HIFA
Hamilton Masakadza enjoying the Winky D concert at HIFA

I was at the Winky D concert during HIFA and who was there standing right next to me, Hamilton Masakadza. I took a few pics and then went up to him. I had met Hamilton on three different occasions, first time in Rosebank, I just stopped him in the mall and he was game to chat. Then again with an acquaintance who went to school with him. So when I went up to him and greeted him these was our little conversation.

PV: Ndeipi Mudhara (Whats man)

HM: Ndeipi indava kusabatika (Whats up? Long time no see!)

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