Mashonaland win by four wickets as Mackay retires

Mashonaland celebrated a four-wicket victory over Manicaland in three days, in what Gus Mackay announced in the morning would be his final first-class match. He is retiring from first-class cricket immediately and also leaves his job as general manager of the Mashonaland Cricket Association at the end of May. He was pleased to end his career as captain of a winning side.

Mashonaland had a good morning, taking five wickets before lunch after declaring at their overnight total of 431 for nine, a lead of 34. Manicaland passed 100 with only two wickets down, one of them being the crucial one of Neil Ferreira for 21, Mackay's last first-class victim. He did not open with the new ball this time, feeling that the time had come for younger and faster bowlers to gain the experience.

Then, at 119, Manicaland crumbled under pressure, with Guy Croxford (78) trying in vain to hold the innings together; none of the last seven batsmen reached double figures.

Trevor Gripper bowled his off-breaks very well to take five wickets for 66 runs, and the other bowlers supported him well and stuck to their task. Mashonaland were left with a relatively simple target of 159.

The result was never really in doubt, and Mackay felt that they would have won by a larger margin had it not been for their eagerness to finish the match that day. Conan Brewer batted very well for his 45, the top score, while Stuart Carlisle followed his double-century with 43 before being run out. The middle order shivered as off-spinner Richie Sims took two wickets, but they were never in real danger and just achieved their target in extra time.