Tynedale has moved quickly to snap up stand-out Zimbabwean domestic star, Nkosana Mpofu, for their 2024 NEPL campaign.
Mpofu is an accomplished batting all-rounder playing for the Tuskers in Zimbabwean domestic cricket.
Mpofu was one of Logan Cup’s stand-out performers last summer (2023/24). The left-handed opening batter who bowls off-spin, was the fifth leading run-scorer with 623 runs at 41.52 with 2 centuries, and 3 fifties.
The highlight of his summer came against the Rhinos hitting a career-best 162 from 291 balls, before backing up with 89 (150) in the second innings, then bagging the wicket of Rhinos skipper, former Test batter Tafadzwanashe Kaitano.
Earlier this summer, Mpofu enjoyed a stellar Pro50 Championship scoring half-centuries against the Rocks (69), Rhinos (51), and Southerns (55) before a ton (110) vs the Mountaineers. He also impressed with notable bowling figures of 3-58 (v Southerns), 3-40 (v Eagles), 3-28 (v Rhinos) and career-best List A figures of 5-47 (v Rocks).
The all-rounder is now a veteran of 100 plus domestic matches in his 10-year career in Zimbabwe (2013-23). He has played for various sides, most recently the Tuskers following his return from a season’s club cricket in Australia.
Whilst down under, he played for Hoppers Crossing in the strong Victorian Sub District Cricket Association (North/West 1st XI). Mpofu struck a century (116) on debut against St Bernard’s Old Collegians to open his VSDCA campaign but failed to continue his Round 1 exploits, finishing the summer with 239 runs at 18.38 alongside 8 wickets at 35.88.
In his homeland, though, Mpofu has enjoyed significant success. In 57 first-class games, he’s struck 2,513 runs at 25.90 with 3 centuries and 9 fifties. He was a consistent performer, hitting 309 runs at 28.09 (2013/14), 428 runs at 26.75 (2014/15), 378 runs at 37.80 (2015/16), 237 runs at 19.75 (2016/17), 143 runs at 47.66 (2017/18), but under-performed in 2018/19, only averaging 14.16. Nevertheless, he’s returned to form over the past two seasons hitting 240 runs at 20 (2019/20), 224 runs at 17.23 (2021/22), and 469 runs at 33.50 (2022/23).
His career highlight came in July 2016, when he featured for Zimbabwe A against the touring New Zealanders. He also enjoyed success for the Tuskers in the Pro50 tournaments in 2021/22 (142 runs at 25.61), and 2022/23 (213 runs at 23.66 and 15 wickets at 16.06).
An accredited Level 2 coach, Mpofu is now set on a European return in 2024 following three UK stints with Marlow (Thames Valley League) in 2015, Ferguslie (Western District Cricket Union) in 2019, and a brief stint with Heathcoat (Devon League) in 2023. He impressed during his Scottish season, in-particular, with averages of 26.80 and 11.50 with bat and ball, respectively. He will be hoping to excel this summer in England having signed with Tynedale for their 2024 North East Premier League campaign.
