Zimbabwe cricket: National League

ALEX v MANICALAND, at Alexandra Sports Club

ALEX 221/6 (50 overs) (D A Marillier 41, G A Rennie 56, G C Martin 54; D Yatras 2/39, K G B Ziehl 2/37). MANICALAND 215/9 (50 overs) (G J Whittall 24, B I Robinson 51, K G B Ziehl 58; S G Davies 2/35, K G Duers 2/37, G C Martin 2/34). Alex won by 6 runs.

These two clubs, winners in an exciting match the previous weekend, were involved in another close finish. Alex, the victors, go to the top of the log as the only team to have won both its first two matches.

A good opening partnership, the size of which was not recorded on the scoresheets returned to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, between Doug Marillier and Gavin Rennie, gave Alex a great advantage but, apart from Gary Martin, the middle order was not able to accelerate sufficiently on a heavy outfield to set Manicaland an unattainable target.

Manicaland lost their first four batsmen for under 100 (again, exact details are unobtainable) before Brad Robinson, son of Test umpire Ian, and Ken Ziehl led a superb fightback. Both were dismissed within sight of victory, but the lower order gallantly continued the fightback until ten runs were required off the last over, to be bowled by Sean Davies, with two wickets left. However, only three were possible and a run-out also occurred.

HARARE SPORTS CLUB v BULAWAYO ATHLETIC CLUB, at Harare South Country Club

BAC 88 (N C Johnson 25; A M Blignaut 3/18, D J Peacock 2/43. A P Hoffman 4/19). HSC 92/3 (C B Wishart 39*; M L Nkala 2/25). HSC won by seven wickets.

This match was played at Harare South as the Harare Sports Club ground is currently unavailable while undergoing renovations. BAC were not so much weak as inexperienced, although they do not have the strength on paper of their opponents.

Batting first, they never came to grips with the Sports Club attack, with Neil Johnson the only batsman to pass 20 before being out to a fine diving catch at mid-on by Kelly Bennett. This was virtually the end of the resistance, the last seven batsmen contributing only 11 runs between them. Andy Blignaut, now on his way to the Dennis Lillee school of pace bowling (and sledging?) in Chennai (Madras), took three wickets in quick succession, while the medium-pacers of Hoffman had accounted for the top three batsmen in the order.

Harare Sports Club struggled to start with against some good pace bowling by Mluleki Nkala, but Henry Olonga seemed out of sorts and BAC were unable to maintain the pressure after dismissing Trevor Gripper (3) and Jason Oates (9) cheaply. Andrew Whittall came on to replace Olonga in the ninth over, but he could do nothing to prevent Sports Club's progress. In accordance with the regulations, they claimed an extra half-hour in order to complete the match before lunch.

OLD HARARIANS v OLD GEORGIANS, at Old Hararians Sports Club

OH 226/6 (P K Gada 24, R W Price 20, D P Viljoen 26, T L Penney 52, P A Strang 71*; G W Flower 3/29). OG 183 (G W Flower 67, M A Wagh 28, C N Evans 39, L S Mulloch-Brown 27; D P Viljoen 4/39), T L Penney 2/19). Old Hararians won by 10 runs (target adjusted.

Old Hararians wasted their early opportunities, with their first four batsmen all being dismissed for between 17 and 26 after making a start to their innings. Then Trevor Penney and Paul Strang came together at 97 for four off 30 overs and proceeded to share a dashing stand of 106 for the fifth wicket. They placed the ball well, ran superbly between the wickets and showed excellent shot selection to take their team well beyond the 200 mark.

Old Georgians looked well placed to challenge this total when they reached 113 after 29 overs, with the only wicket to fall that of Warwickshire player Mark Wagh, now a member of the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy, along with Nathan Batson of Worcestershire, who took the field for Old Georgians. Then came an interruption for rain, which altered the course of the match.

On resumption, Old Georgians' target was adjusted to 193 off 42 overs. But Craig Evans immediately departed, big-hitting Gus Mackay was run out without scoring, and the innings began to fall apart. The dismissal of Grant Flower finally sealed the matter, the only resistance after that coming from Lance Mulloch-Brown who made a valiant but unavailing attempt to take his team home single-handed.

If there had been a Man of the Match award, it would have been impossible to ignore Penney and Strang, but Grant Flower had more all-round influence than either. Besides his fine innings, he dismissed Old Hararians' first three batsmen and also fielded brilliantly.

His brother Andy is currently playing second-league cricket for the young black team Winstonians, but rain has washed out both of their matches to date.

UNIVERSALS v QUEENS, at Universals Sports Club

Match abandoned without a ball being bowled.

A waterlogged ground prevented defending champions Universals from taking the field for the second successive week. After losing the first two of their five matches, Universals face a tremendous task if they are to retain their title.

PROGRAMME FOE SUNDAY 24 JANUARY

Probably rain . . . otherwise:

Bulawayo Athletic Club v Old Hararians, at Bulawayo Athletic Club Manicaland v Queens Sports Club, at Alexandra Sports Club (neutral venue owing to the difficulty of transport between Bulawayo and Mutare) Old Georgians v Alex, at Old Georgians Sports Club Universals v Harare Sports Club, at Universals Sports Club