The Zimbabwe Board XI has recently returned from a three-week tour of South Africa, where they won four matches out of six against North West B, Easterns B and KwaZulu-Natal B.

To put the record in perspective, it must be admitted that the first two teams are still fairly weak provincial sides, and all were B teams while the Board XI were fielding teams containing several Test players. It remains a little disappointing that our record against such sides is not even better.

Frequent changes of personnel make it difficult for a team to play at its best, though, and Test calls for several players caused necessary alterations. Trevor Penney admitted it was disruptive from a playing point of view, but it was impressive how everybody fitted into the team despite the difference in ages, and the team spirit was 'once again fantastic'. The following all played at one time or another on tour:

Trevor Penney (captain), Andy Blignaut, Gary Brent, Stuart Carlisle, Deon Ebrahim, Trevor Gripper, Greg Lamb, Gus Mackay, Doug Marillier, Everton Matambanadzo, Pommie Mbangwa, Bruce Moore-Gordon, Henry Olonga, Ray Price, Bryan Strang, Dirk Viljoen and Brighton Watambwa.

As usual, a three-day match was played between the teams, followed by a one-day game.

1st three-day match, v North West B, 14, 15, 16 October, at Potchefstroom.

NORTH WEST B 313/8 dec (Thinus Enslin 111) and 181 (Gary Brent 4/21). ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 410 (Doug Marillier 57, Andy Blignaut 129) and 85/1 (Marillier 55). Zimbabwe Board XI won by nine wickets.

Trevor Penney won the toss and decided to bowl first on a green pitch. The team bowled quite well and had North West struggling at 160 for six, but then some undisciplined bowling as the pitch flattened out enabled them to declare.

The pick of the bowlers was Gus Mackay, who took two for 31; the rest of the seam bowlers tried hard but lacked discipline. Ray Price bowled well without luck. Overall they were disappointed not to have bowled them out for less.

The top order batted very well as a unit, but they kept losing wickets at crucial times. Andy Blignaut hit a 'fantastic' 129, with 6 sixes and 16 fours off 122 balls, which enabled the team to reach a total of 410, a good lead of 97 runs.

The bowling in the second innings was much improved, with good discipline and patience in evidence. Gary Brent was the pick of the seamers, while Price's three wickets came at vital stages.

As they chased 85 to win, Doug Marillier reached his second fifty of the match and was unfortunately out with only six further runs needed for victory.

ONE-DAY MATCH, 17 October

ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 271/6 (50 overs) (Doug Marillier 60, Stuart Carlisle 62). NORTH WEST B 85 (29.2 overs) (Gus Mackay 3/20). Zimbabwe Board XI won by 186 runs.

The Board XI won the toss on a very good batting pitch and so decided to bat. Mackay (39 off 24 balls) and Marillier got them off to a great start, with 59 in 6.2 overs. Carlisle made a good fifty and all the other batsmen made useful contributions, enabling them to set a difficult target.

Mackay took three early wickets with some fine swing bowling which put North West out of the game. They struggled thereon as all the Board XI bowlers continued to bowl professionally, and were eventually dismissed for 81.

2nd three-day match, v Easterns B, 21, 22, 23 October, at Benoni

EASTERNS 280 (Hussein Manack 116) and 263/5 dec (Derek Brand 79*). ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 253/8 dec (Stuart Carlisle 55, Bruce Moore-Gordon 50*; M Mostert 4/40) and 143/3. Match drawn.

The Board XI lost the toss and fielded. The pitch was very low and slow. Their good seam attack could not penetrate the Easterns batting, but did a good job of containing them to 280 in 100 overs. Price and Dirk Viljoen were very economical.

The Board XI lost two early wickets before Carlisle joined Gripper at the crease and the two played exceptionally well, along with Price and Moore-Gordon who ensured they achieved their bonus points. Penney declared behind, hoping Easterns would make a game of it

He felt, though, that the opposition had shown a negative attitude throughout the game, a draw being their main objective, and this continued. They found it hard to bowl them out as the ball did not bounce above knee height. Easterns eventually declared, leaving the Board XI an impossible target at six runs an over. Penney instructed his batsmen to go in and get some batting practice. The match was eventually called off early.

ONE-DAY MATCH, 24 October

ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 177 (44.1 overs) (Trevor Penney 66; Colin Douglas 3/37, M Mostert 3/25). EASTERNS 148 (Ray Price 3/34). Zimbabwe Board XI won by 29 runs.

The Board XI lost the toss and were put in to bat. They had a bad start due to some bad shot selection and were five down for 31 at one stage. Penney and Ebrahim (27) steadied the ship, enabling them to reach a total of 171.

The Board XI bowling and fielding were superb and resulted in Easterns being dismissed for 148. It was a particularly good fightback for the Board XI after starting so badly.

3rd three-day match, v Natal B, 28, 29, 30 October, at Kingsmead, Durban

NATAL B 322/9 dec (Duncan Brown 161) and 71/0. ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 97 (Jonathan Bastow 5/21) and 293 (Ray Price 50, Dirk Viljoen 56, Gus Mackay 55; Rudi de Vry 6/64). Natal B won by ten wickets.

Penney won the toss and decided to bowl, his decision being influenced by heavy rains prior to the match. The pitch, though, turned out to be a very flat batting track, but Matambanadzo achieved two early break-throughs. The seamers bowled a steady line and length but lacked penetration, although Price contained the batsmen very well.

The Board XI batted for an hour that evening following the declaration and lost three vital wickets, although Penney feels that the umpires were at fault for insisting the match continued in bad light. The next morning they had a terrible first hour where the batsmen failed to apply themselves and played too many bad shots. They were required to follow on 225 runs behind.

Second time round they were much improved, with Price batting four hours for his fifty while Carlisle (46), Viljoen and Mackay (30 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) contributed useful scores. With nobody going on to a really big score, though, Natal needed only 69 to win, which they achieved without losing a wicket.

ONE-DAY MATCH, 31 Oct

NATAL B 114 (Gary Brent 3/8). ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 115/5 (Stuart Carlisle 49*). Zimbabwe Board XI won by five wickets.

The Board XI lost the toss and fielded. Mackay and Matambanadzo bowled exceptionally well with the new ball to destroy the top order; the home side were at different stages 10 for four and 41 for eight. They recovered to 115, a target that was always achievable, and they lost only five wickets in reaching it.

According to Penney, Carlisle was the best batsman and Mackay the best all-rounder, taking good wickets and scoring useful runs, usually at a furious pace. He was most impressive opening the batting in one-day matches, and Penney would not be surprised to see him called up to the national side.

Brent also improved as an all-rounder; his batting is developing well and he is bowling quicker and hitting the deck harder. Price had a very good tour, contributing with both bat and ball, and he is improving all the time.

Matambanadzo played a major part, bowling at real pace and swinging the ball away, often dismissing the early opposition batsmen. Wicket-keeper Moore-Gordon batted well, twice saving the team from collapsed with valuable innings.

Although they may not have made any headlines, the younger players Deon Ebrahim and Greg Lamb both benefited greatly from the tour and learned quickly.

The Board XI has two home matches next month, beginning on 9 December in Mutare and 16 December in Kwekwe. We look forward to some more sterling performances, as long as the weather is co-operative. Those in South Africa who arrange the fixtures might take the Zimbabwean rainy season a little more into consideration.

© ZCU