Manicaland cricket slipped to its lowest point of the season last Sunday when they lost to a mediocre Alexandra Sports Club side by two wickets at Mutare Sports Club. Alex have lost to most of the sides Manicaland have beaten this season so the game should have been a formality.

Things went wrong from the start when it was found that only nine players had arrived at the ground. In scenes reminiscent of the bad old second-league days, frantic phone calls were being made to anyone and everyone in town. Mutare Boys High schoolboy Fortune Dhliwayo happened to come along to the ground and was rushed into the side, together with Hillcrest College second-teamer David Winter who was hauled out of bed. This from a side purportedly on course to win the league - with Andy Flower, Alistair Campbell and Guy Whittall on the books. Captain Neil Ferreira had to contend with the loss of Kingsley Went to injury earlier in the week, Andre Soma (sick) the night before and Tafadzwa Madondo who just never pitched up.

Despite a bright opening partnership of 87 between Ferreira (42) and Mark Burmester (38) and a robust 38 from fast bowler Alec Taylor, Manicaland sank to 186 all out in the 44th over. Richie Sims was well set when bowled for 26 to a loose expansive drive from off-spinner Marillier when his main objective was to bat 50 overs. Without his granite presence to bat around, Manicaland succumbed to the wiles of veteran off-spinner Dave Stannard -- who finished with seven for 36 off 10 overs. Sims needs to convert the forties and fifties he has scored this season to centuries if he is to move to the next level.

Alex made surprisingly heavy weather of the target - scampering home in the 44th over with two wickets to spare. Manicaland's bowling and fielding was desperate for a side boasting six professionals. They looked more like a side in need of professional coaching. Scratch golfer De Beer hit an assured 61, de Grandhomme (son of Laurence) 36 and Goosen (son of umpire Quentin) 31. Leg-spinner Ian Coulson had a wretched match, going from bad to worse after a verbal clash with Alex's Andrew Gilmour during his own innings.

Manicaland's seamers fared best with Taylor (2/35) Leon Soma (2/15) and Justin Lewis (2/30) the wicket-takers. Lewis is fast earning a reputation for himself, having smoked five Universals batsmen a fortnight ago. In a mesmerizing spell deserving greater reward, he persistently beat the bat and proved the Zimbabwe Under-19 selectors a myopic anachronism. At this rate he will be able to thumb his nose at that august body from the confines of the national team.

Manicaland II rounded off a disastrous weekend, losing by three wickets to Winstonians at Churchill School (Harare) on the same day. In a game marred by excessive sledging by the home side, Manicaland II (playing with only nine men) were dismissed for 194 with schoolboys Keegan Taylor (30) and Marcellus van der Merwe (36) the main contributors. Winstonians reached their target with only seven wickets down.

This Sunday Manicaland play Old Hararians at Mutare Sports Club whilst Manicaland II take on Old Georgians II at Hillcrest College the same day. Tino Mawoyo captains Manicaland Under-16s against Midlands Under-16s at Mutare Sports Club on Saturday.

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