Mashonaland lose to Manicaland by 65 runs

After seven years without defeat in an official match, the Mashonaland juggernaut finally crashed to defeat at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on 29 January 2003. It was not a first-class match, but part of Zimbabwe's first official one-day competition, and Manicaland, the team from the Eastern Highlands, were the side to achieve it. They did so by a margin of 65 runs, with a good fifty from Richie Sims and an incisive bowling performance from Blessing Mahwire being the highlights of a great team performance.

This match was between the two top teams in the log, with Mashonaland having three victories to their credit and Manicaland two. A Manicaland victory would open up the competition but Mashonaland were favourites as usual and winning again would virtually assure them of the Faithwear Trophy. Mashonaland were missing Andy Blignaut from a finger injury sustained when facing Heath Streak in their last match in Harare.

In front of a ground devoid of spectators (the number did creep into double figures in the afternoon) and on a humid, partly overcast morning, Manicaland won the toss and decided to bat on a sound pitch. Alistair Campbell opened and seemed to enjoy a charmed life. He got off the mark with a leading edge that would have presented a closer third man with the easiest of catches, he survived a stumping chance off a leg-side wide from Gus Mackay with keeper Tatenda Taibu standing up, and in the same over, the fourth of the innings, edged a catch that would have been swallowed by second slip had there been one.

Manicaland obviously recognized that they needed to post a large total if they were to test Mashonaland. Neil Ferreira, who has built a reputation as a dogged opener in the Logan Cup, twice hit the bowlers over their heads in the early overs, and then lashed Douglas Hondo through the covers for another four. Campbell, settling down, hit Mackay for a screaming low six over extra cover, but his luck finally expired when he sliced a ball from Waddington Mwayenga all the way to deep third man Elton Chigumbura. He scored 31.

Ferreira (20) fell in the same over, caught low at backward point, and at 56 for two Manicaland were in danger of losing their advantage. Glen Barrett, sent in at three as a pinch-hitter, went to work with a will and was soon hoisting Hondo for a huge six over midwicket, immediately followed by a murderous straight drive for four and a six into the sightscreen; altogether he hit 20 off the over.

Guy Whittall, who at present would hardly recognize a run if it hit him on the helmet, made only 6 of their partnership of 37 before a tentative push yielded a catch to the keeper off, again, Mwayenga. Barrett, less accomplished against spin, was frequently found groping when Murphy brought himself on to bowl, but Richie Sims at the other end joined the party by hitting Mwayenga over long leg for two sixes.

Grant Flower came on to provide spin at both ends, and Barrett (44) immediately donated him the easiest of return catches; Manicaland 129 for four in the 25th over. A good, if quieter, partnership then developed between Sims and Stuart Matsikenyeri, but they were not able to get the slower bowlers away as consistently as they would have wished. These included Andy Flower, who tied up an end for a while with slow-medium 'dobbers' until Richie Sims finally stepped down the pitch and hit him into the sightscreen for six.

Matsikenyeri (30) was eventually caught in the covers off Grant Flower in the 43rd over, with the score 204, somewhat less that desirable against the powerful Mashonaland batting. Paul Strang hit a quick 16 off 12 balls, Guy Croxford 11 off 11, and Gary Brent 12 not out off 9, but a total of 252 for eight wickets was a target that Mashonaland would fancy. Mwayenga finished with the best figures of three for 37 in 8 overs, while Grant Flower bowled his 10 for just 30 runs.

Mashonaland's only weakness is their opening partnership, and they now tried Brian Murphy, who is enjoying a good club season in that position, as Stuart Carlisle's third opening partner in four matches. This too failed, as he had only 6 to his name when a ball from Henry Olonga clipped his leg stump.

Andy Flower came in next, batting with his usual unobtrusive mastery in these matches. He lost Carlisle for 19, trapped lbw by Blessing Mahwire, and then Grant Flower (2), lbw to the same bowler. Mahwire and Whittall at the other end both bowled a tight line and length, and Mashonaland were forced to struggle for runs. Ebrahim, frustrated, swung wildly at Mahwire and was bowled for just 1. At 67 for four in the 20th over, Mashonaland were struggling - but so had they in their previous match, against Matabeleland, where they eventually won by two wickets. The excellent Mahwire was to finish with three for 38 off his 10 overs.

Then came the major blow, as a fine throw from Guy Whittall ran out Andy Flower - remarkably for such a fine runner, the second time in three matches he has fallen this way - going for a second run. Flower made 30, and Mashonaland were now 75 for five, without Blignaut to come. But Craig Evans was still there, a man easily capable of a match-winning century.

Evans responded in typical fashion by hammering Sims for a straight six, followed by another over extra cover in the following over. He escaped with a couple of miscued strokes, and played and missed several times, but continued to attack with confidence. Then, immediately after the drinks interval, he seemed to lose concentration and gave it away, as he pulled a ball from Whittall straight down the throat of deep square leg. He scored 39 and, with Mashonaland 134 for six and all their major batsmen gone, Manicaland appeared to have victory firmly in their sights. This was perhaps the most decisive moment of the game.

A useful partnership ensued between Tatenda Taibu and Elton Chigumbura, but Sims persuaded Taibu (32) into giving a return catch; 159 for seven in the 39th over, and a required run rate of more than eight an over now. Manicaland's only obstacle now was the big-hitting Gus Mackay.

Mackay was soon selecting the balls and hitting some powerful boundaries, while the 16-year-old Chigumbura played a valuable support role. But then came the final blow: a direct hit from Strang ran out Mackay, 14 off 11 balls, and at 176 for eight in the 42nd over, Mashonaland had reached the point of no return.

Chigumbura did his best with 22 before skying a catch, and finally last man Mwayenga was bowled by Sims, giving Manicaland a historic victory and propelling them to joint first place with Mashonaland on the log, with two matches to go.