The final round of Castle Lager National League fixtures produced exciting cricket as the teams scrambled for a top-four finish on the log and thereby qualify for the semi-finals.

Universals v Mutare

In the biggest upset of the weekend, the unfancied Mutare Sports Club upset log leaders Universals in a tense clash. Universals compiled a useful 244/8 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Khalid Adam and Alester Maragwede who batted in the middle order after a string of failures against the new ball. Darlington Matambanadzo contributed 39, and David Mutendera and Shiraz Adam plundered useful runs at the end of the innings. Richard Simms bagged 3/36 for the visitors, while captain Mark Burmester claimed the wickets of Ali Shah and the dangerous Dion Ebrahim in the first couple of overs.

Mutare started their reply in disastrous fashion when Mutendera and Everton Matambanadzo removed Neil Ferreira, Tafadzwa Madondo and Burmester with just a handful of runs on the board. Last week's centurion Richard Sims and Steve Lawson came together for a 150-run partnership to give the visitors a chance of victory. But when Sims was run out for 102 and Lawson was caught for 74 the match hung in the balance. The Mutare lower order responded and Mutare sneaked home with one ball to spare.

The defeat means that Universals finished in fourth place on the log and still qualified for the knockout stage of the competition.

Universals 244/8 (K Adam 59, D Matambanadzo 39, A Maragwede 56*, M Burmester 2/63, R Simms 3/36)
Mutare 248/7 (R Simms 102, S Lawson 74, D Mutendera 2/35, E Matambanadzo 2/43)

Mutare won by 3 wickets

Old Hararians v Kwekwe

Kwekwe travelled to Harare to take on defending champions, and arguably the toughest side in the competition to play their final league match of the season. Batting first, the Kwekwe innings never gained any real momentum despite a solid start from openers Raymond Price and John Vaughan-Davies. The Kwekwe middle order proved to be brittle and only the ever-consistent Dave Houghton and budding all-rounder Douglas Hondo were able to record double figures as the innings ended on 172 all out. Gary Brent continued his good form with the ball, taking 3/29, while Paul Strang and Sean Ervine bowled well to put the brakes on the run rate.

The total was never likely to pose a serious challenge to an OH side containing the likes of Trevor Penney, Greg Lamb and Paul Strang, and this proved to be the case as the hosts cruised to victory by six wickets with almost 10 overs to spare. Conan Brewer scored the only half-century of the match, and Lamb and Colin Delport made sure of victory with solid innings.

The win resulted in OH finishing on top of the log, thanks also to the loss by Universals. Kwekwe had a reasonable debut season in the first league with some good victories early in the season. They faltered somewhat in the last few months, and have relied heavily on Dave Houghton to captain the side and score the bulk of their runs.

Kwekwe 172 all out (R Price 38, D Houghton 37, D Hondo 31, G Brent 3/29, P Strang 2/20, S Ervine 2/14)
OH 175/4 (C Brewer 53, G Lamb 41*, C Delport 38*)

OH won by 6 wkts

Old Georgians v Queens

In a must-win encounter for OGs, the dangerous Queens Cricket Club travelled from Bulawayo to Harare for the third consecutive week. OGs have badly missed the services of captain Gus Mackay in the last few weeks, and this was highlighted again as Queens won with just one ball to spare. Stand-in skipper Craig Evans won the toss and opted to bat first on a good batting strip and fast outfield, thanks to an unusually extended dry spell of weather in Harare.

The match was reduced to a 40-over contest after allowing time for travel for the visitors, and OGs compiled a healthy 226/7 with Craig Wishart playing the lead role. Lance Malloch-Brown and Craig Evans played supporting roles to Wishart who finally appears to be regaining his form after an extended poor trot.

The target of 227 in 40 overs was competitive and required the Queens batsmen to score heavily. Queens were in early trouble, losing three quick wickets, but Ian Engelbrecht played superbly to score 82 to set the platform for an improbable victory by three wickets with just one ball to spare.

The loss is a bitter blow for OGs who have played positive aggressive cricket this season, and at times looked almost invincible. But in recent weeks they have lost matches they should have won, and they have not been able to fill the void created by Mackay's selection to the Zimbabwe side in Australia.

Conversely Queens will be pleased with their efforts in the league, topping the log at one stage. They also lost momentum in the latter part of the season when they encountered the stronger Harare sides but have done enough to qualify for the semi-finals.

Alexandra v Old Winstonians

Alex hosted Winstonians in a match of little consequence to the visitors, and a one-sided affair could have been expected. But Winstonians produced one of their better performances of the season to give Alex a mighty scare before eventually succumbing to a 19-run defeat. The Winstonians bowling has improved enormously this season as they have gained in confidence, and the realisation that they can bowl sides out is beginning to dawn.

Alex batted first and stumbled to 194 all out in 49.2 overs, with Craig Anticevich and Andy Blignaut the only Alex batsmen to score significantly. Bruce Makovah was the most successful Winstonian bowler with three wickets, but all bowled usefully.

Winstonians were in with a chance, although much would rest on the performance of Tatenda Taibu. Stuart Matsikenyeri played attractively for 27, but Taibu was dismissed for just 11 runs and Hamilton Masakadza for a duck. Makovah completed an all-round performance with 45. Blignaut and Anticevich, scorers with the bat for Alex, also performed with ball, taking three wickets apiece, and Jason Vaughan-Davies chipped in with two vital wickets at the end to deny Winstonians their first win of the season.

Alex 194 all out (A Blignaut 32, C Anticevich 49, A Mbwembwe 2/38, H Masakadza 2/33, B Makovah 3/25)
Winstonians 175 all out (B Makovah 45, A Blignaut 3/32, C Anticevich 3/21, J Vaughan-Davies 2/19)

Alex won by 19 runs.

Mac Club v Harare Sports Club

In a match of no real consequence to either side, HSC defeated Mac Club by four wickets with 21.3 overs to spare in Bulawayo. Mac Club, who have struggled with their batting all season, were dismissed for a meagre 142 all out, with only Mark Vermeulen managing a meaningful contribution. Brighton Watambwa took the new ball and bowled with pace to grab two early wickets, and Trevor Gripper accounted for the middle order, taking 3/32. Gavin Johnson-Robertson was again miserly, conceding 14 runs off his ten overs and claiming the key wicket of Vermeulen.

In reply, HSC lost the early wickets of Gripper and Paul Brous to Gavin Wren, but Brad Taylor and skipper Donald Campbell consolidated to take the visitors to within sight of a comfortable victory. Wren finished with 4/26 off 10 overs, but the Mac Club cause was not helped by a total of 28 wides in 28 overs, a criminal offence when defending 142.

It has been a disappointing season for both clubs, and HSC will rue their defeat last weekend against Mutare, whilst Mac Club will be left to ponder the fact that they have been outclassed by most other sides.

Mac Club 142 all out (M Vermeulen 71, B Watambwa 2/25, T Gripper 3/32)
HSC 143/6 (D Campbell 31, G Wren 4/26)

HSC won by four wickets

Semi Final Fixtures

The semi final matches to be played on Sunday 28 January are :

Old Hararians v Alexandra
Universals v Queens

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