Matabeleland Tuskers and Zimbabwe senior men’s cricket team fast bowler, Ernest Masuku, is in the form of his life, continuing to take wickets for his side in the Logan Cup against Southern Rocks at Queens Sports Club last week.
Masuku (32) made his debut on August 31 this year in the final ODI against Sri Lanka at Harare Sports Club, becoming player number 163 to represent Zimbabwe in the 50-over format.
He claimed his maiden ODI wicket by dismissing Sadeera Samarawickrama.
However, despite his form, he has yet to be selected for the Test and T20 sides.
Questions have been raised about his ability to play all formats, but his performance for Tuskers last week proved he can take wickets on a pitch that has been said to offer little to seamers.
Cricket writer, Brandon Moyo, also believes Masuku can play all three formats for the Chevrons, rather than being limited to ODIs.
“He definitely can play all formats for Zimbabwe,” Moyo said.
“He is a proven wicket-taker across all formats in domestic cricket, and I believe there are only a few fast bowlers, who are better than him in the country.”
- Fast-bowler Masuku in irresistible form
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In the first innings of the match, Masuku took six wickets for 40 runs in 17 overs, a career-best figure in first-class cricket.
“His bowling figures on Monday for Tuskers were just another reminder of what he is capable of and how good a bowler he is on any surface,” Moyo said.
“He has the numbers to back him up in any format; he is a wicket-taking machine without any doubt.
“In all honesty, he should have broken into the national team a long time ago.”
The Chevrons’ four-man pace attack for the Afghanistan series featured strike bowler Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tanaka Chivanga, and Bradley Evans.
They were all impressive in both innings as they tore through the Afghanistan batting line-up with ruthless precision.
This means that if given an opportunity, Masuku will need to be at his absolute best to displace any of them.
On the fringe are bowlers like Tinotenda Maphosa, Newman Nyamhuri, and Trevor Gwandu. Nyamhuri and Gwandu have had chances to don the Chevrons jersey in first-class cricket but haven’t quite made their mark, which currently makes Masuku a better option to compete with the four preferred seamers.
Masuku is also a decent batsman.
His valiant knock in Tuskers’ second innings helped push their lead past 200, setting a 201 target for Rocks to chase.
Tuskers resumed on 109 for eight overnight on Wednesday last week and stretched their total to 167, thanks to Masuku’s 45 and ample support from Tanatswa Bechani, who scored 33.
However, Rocks eventually won the game by four wickets.
Masuku has been consistent in the domestic league and was also the highest wicket-taker for Zimbabwe A against Scotland in April this year.
He wrote his own piece of history by taking seven wickets in a match against the Scots on April 28, in a game Zimbabwe won by eight wickets, though Scotland ultimately won the ODI series 2-1.
Meanwhile, the 2025/26 domestic season kicked off last week with the premium competitions, the Logan Cup and Pro50 Championship in full swing in Bulawayo and Kwekwe.
At Kwekwe Sports Club, the Midwest Rhinos and Mashonaland Eagles match ended in a draw. Rhinos scored 274 and 254-8 declared in their two innings, while Eagles made 155 and 226-3.
In the Pro50 contests, Rocks beat Tuskers at Queens on Friday.
Rocks scored 256-8 in their allotted 50 overs, with Innocent Kaia (71) and Matthew Campbell (39) topping the scores. Nkosana Mpofu, Ainsley Ndlovu, and Bechani took two wickets apiece.
In their reply, Tuskers were all out for 168 in 38.2 overs, with Munashe Chimusoro scoring 51. Nyamhuri was the pick of the bowlers for Rocks, taking four wickets, while Roy Kaia and Dereck Sadoki took three each.
In the other match in Kwekwe, Eagles won by two wickets against Rhinos.
Action continues tomorrow as Tuskers host Manicaland Mountaineers at Queens until Sunday in the Logan Cup.
The two teams will then lock horns in their Pro50 match next Tuesday.
In Kwekwe, Rhinos and Rocks will clash on the same days as the Tuskers and Mountaineers matches.
The domestic season will run through until mid-December before taking a Christmas break and resuming next year.
