BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Sogo Rangers have won six out of six pool matches in Zimbabwe’s National Premier League ahead of beginning of the play-offs on Tuesday – with the club’s in-form batsman Jayden Schadendorf emerging as a standout player in the T20 competition.
The 25-year-old former Zimbabwe Under-19 star on Monday smashed his second century of the tournament in Rangers’ six-wicket win over Mbizo at Old Hararians, finishing unbeaten on 102.
“Jayden is very much an attacking player, he does play to his strength,” Sogo Rangers’ South African head coach Ryan Maron told SportsCast on Monday after the match.
“He hits the ball sweetly, he has amazing quick hands. He gets on top of any bowler who bowl in his areas. He’s very aggressive, and hits the ball far. And he also knows how to rotate the strike, and run really well. So I think he is a very exciting player for the future.”
49-year-old Maron – who has previously served as fielding coach for the national teams of the West Indies and Afghanistan – is on a brief stint with the ambitious Harare-based Sogo Rangers in Zimbabwe’ premier T20 event.
The Capetonian reckons right-hander Schadendorf is now prepared to play international cricket for Zimbabwe’s senior team.
“He’s very passionate about the game, and he is an amazing team man,” added Maron.
“He’s the type of player that will die for the team, and that’s what I respect about him. 25 years isn’t a bad year to mature as a batsman. He has clearly worked hard and has many years ahead of him to hopefully play for Zimbabwe. He is definitely capable in the shorter version of the game and I think he will flourish in that environment: playing and training with top players. You can only get better. So I think under the guidance of the (national team) head coach and the assistant coaches, he will do really well. He is an exciting player for the future for Zimbabwe, and I’m backing him all the way.”
