Matches played Sunday 31 January

ALEXANDRA v UNIVERSALS, at Alexandra Sports Club

ALEX 199/8 (50 overs) (D G Goodwin 42, M W Goodwin 23, S G Davies 22, T G Bartlett 55*, J W Armitage 28; A Meman 2/26, A D R Campbell 4/52). UNIVERSALS 2/0 (1 over). Match drawn -- rain.

An interesting match between the current joint log leaders and the defending champions was ruined by the weather. Some consistent batting in damp and generally overcast conditions took Alex to a reasonably good score in the circumstances, but Universals were barely able to start their reply before an afternoon storm ended play.

For Universals, David Mutendera bowled well, although failing to take a wicket, on his return to the team after a year's absence from cricket due to a stress fracture of the back.

BULAWAYO ATHLETIC CLUB v MANICALAND, at Country Club

MANICALAND 115 (39.3 overs) (M G Burmester 26, L Adam 34; A R Whittall 2/18, I Engelbrecht 3/26). BAC 90/8 (30 overs) (T Duffin 36*, M L Nkala 17; M G Burmester 3/8, K G B Ziehl 2/11). Manicaland won by 12 runs (adjusted target).

This match, between Bulawayo and Mutare clubs, was played at a neutral venue, originally to have been Universals but switched to Country Club owing to the waterlogged state of the Universals ground. The plane carrying the Manicaland team was delayed, so the match was adjusted to 40 overs per side at the start.

The Manicaland batting struggled with little success to master a difficult pitch, and were never able to settle. They just failed to last out their 40 overs. BAC similarly struggled and were 18 for three off 9.5 overs when rain intervened. The teams were able to start again with only ten overs lost, and BAC's target was amended to 102 off 30 overs. They slumped to 34 for seven at one stage, and were only able to come close to their target thanks to a fighting partnership between Trevor Duffin and Mluleki Nkala.

OLD HARARIANS v QUEENS SPORTS CLUB, at Old Hararians Sports Club

QUEENS SPORTS CLUB 101 (40 overs) (N R van Rensburg 20, H H Streak 26; B C Strang 2/10, T Hoal 2/21, G B Brent 2/20, R W Price 2/20, D P Viljoen 2/16). OLD HARARIANS 19/0 (4.4 overs). Match drawn -- rain.

Old Hararians were probably deprived of victory and the chance to take a clear lead in the National League table by the weather. In a match reduced before the start to 42 overs per side, they bowled out the Bulawayo club with two overs to spare. Perhaps the best of their five bowlers who shared out the wickets equally was left-arm spinner Raymond Price. He was hit for 10 off his first over, but then bowled a further eight overs, conceding only 10 more off those and taking two vital wickets. Old Hararians had just started a confident reply when the rain put paid to their hopes.

OLD GEORGIANS v HARARE SPORTS CLUB, at Old Georgians Sports Club

This match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a waterlogged ground and their inability to find an alternative venue.

With four rounds of matches now played, Alex and Old Hararians still head the field, with two wins and two draws apiece. They are due to meet next weekend -- weather permitting!

Points to date (3 for a win, 1.5 for a draw): Old Hararians and Alexandra 9, Universals 7.5, Manicaland and Queens 6, Old Georgians and Harare Sports Club 4.5, Bulawayo Athletic Club 1.5.

NEXT WEEKEND'S FIXTURES (subject to interference without prior notification from the weather):

Alexandra v Old Hararians, at Alexandra Sports Club

Manicaland v Old Georgians, at Mutare Sports Club

Queens Sports Club v Harare Sports Club, at Queens Sports Club

Universals v Bulawayo Athletic Club, probably at Harare South Country Club, as the Universals ground is unlikely to be fit for play.