Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Having missed out on a return to international cricket during the recent series against Afghanistan, leg-spinner Graeme Cremer responded to the disappointment in spectacular fashion, claiming a record-breaking nine-wicket haul for his Midwest Rhinos in the Logan Cup.
The veteran was selected for the Chevrons squad to face Afghanistan in the T20 series in Harare, but failed to make an appearance in any of the three matches.
However, Cremer emphatically rolled back the years on the third day of their rain-affected Logan Cup clash against Southern Rocks at Kwekwe Sports Club.
The match ultimately ended in a draw.
He described the feeling as special, as he wrote his own piece of history.
“I’m very happy actually,” he said.
“It’s been a long time coming back to Kwekwe, my home ground to finish the innings like that and a milestone
“I mean it’s a special feeling… overall pretty happy with the way I bowled.”
Cremer, who took a sabbatical before announcing his comeback a few months ago, has now etched his name into the history books.
According to the Zimbabwe Cricket media team, he became only the fourth Zimbabwean bowler in the country’s first-class history to claim nine wickets in an innings – joining the elite company of the late Mike Procter, Steve Peall, and John Rennie.
He last represented Zimbabwe in 2018.
He had seemingly given up cricket for golf, moving to the United Arab Emirates where his wife Merna works as an airline pilot.
He has since returned home and took part in club competitions for Takashinga Patriots to push for national selection.
The former Chevrons skipper, now 39, could not dislodge Wellington Masakadza from the national side in the recent series, whom coach Justin Sammons described as a player in form, adding that Cremer must earn his place back.
“The reality is, Wellington has been brilliant for us when he’s played,” Sammons said.
“If you look back to the final (of the T20 World Cup Qualifier) against Namibia, I think he was four overs and 1/22. And again, he went four overs 1/20 (against Afghanistan).
“So, for Cremer to now jump ahead of him, it’s highly unlikely that will happen.
“But certainly, there will be an opportunity for him in the near future where he will get some game time.
“It’s very much combination dependent.”
With Zimbabwe’s eyes on the T20 World Cup, there is a clear need for attacking bowlers who can force a wicket even in the harshest of conditions.
The Chevrons’ bowling unit struggled against a quality opponent like Afghanistan, losing the recent series 3-0 at home.
Cremer’s proven wicket-taking ability, coupled with his experience and decent batting, presents a good case for his recall.
Despite the rain that plagued the fixture in Kwekwe, there was still time for a century from wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga, who scored 110 from 205 balls for the Rocks, his second in first-class cricket.
Meanwhile, the second fixtures of the domestic cricket season’s Logan Cup were affected by rain both in Bulawayo and Kwekwe as the encounter between Matabeleland Tuskers and Manicaland Mountaineers also ended in a draw.
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