The honours were shared fairly evenly on the opening day of the three-day Castle Lager Logan Cup cricket tie between Matabeleland and Mashonaland at BAC yesterday.
Sent into bat on a difficult, spongy track by home team skipper Andrew Whittall, the Mashonaland side reached a respectable 243 before being bowled by what is largely the Zimbabwe Test attack.
In reply Matabeleland were 68-3 at stumps, and will be satisfied with their day's work.
For most part of the proceedings, Matabeleland held a slight edge as their bowlers workd tirelessly on a wicket that did not offer much assistance.
They kept a good line and length and were duly rewarded, but, a resolute 62 from left-handed opener Gavin Rennie and a top score of 70 by Paul Strang, who shared a valuable 71-run stand with Everton Matambanadzo for the last wicket, took the shine off their display.
Still it is not a bad showing and Whittall conceded as much when he said at the end of the day that they had bowled with discipline.
Day 2: Logan Cup poised for intriguing finale
An intriguing finale could unfold on the third and final dau of the Castle Lager Logan Cup cricket match at BAC today, should Mashonaland make a reasonable declaration to their second innings this morning.
It would indeed prove fitting after yesterday's play was characterised by some splendid individual performances and none moreso that that of debutant Charles Coventry and Guy Whittall of Matabeleland and an excellent 160-run partnership from Grant Flower and Murray Goodwin.
At stumps on the second daye yesterday, Mashonaland were 192-1 after they dismissed Matabeleland for 232 in their first knock, effectively giving the visitors and overall lead of 203. They rattled up 243 in their first innings on Tuesday.
Yesterday proved a memorable day for 15-year-old CBC student Coventry who withstood the hostile and experienced bowling from some of Zimbabwe's Test attack before he went for 33 on his first-class debut.
With Whittall, he shared in and 80-run stand for the fourth wicket, before the Zimbabwe all-rounder was caught and bowled by Goodwin for 62.
Matabeleland's innings left them 11 runs in the arrears, but Mashonaland swung the match their way with a fine batting show spearheaded by Flower and Goodwin.