Manicaland made Matabeleland toil for two sessions at Mutare Sports Club yesterday afternoon after winning the toss and batting in favourable conditions. Having hit 269 for three it's impossible to envisage a way they can lose the game, but coming in on four successive first-class defeats it would still take courage to put meaningful money on them. Matabeleland has yet to win a game themselves this season so this result will decide the foot of the table.

The first session was lost because overnight rain caused a wet patch on one of the bowlers' delivery creases. Despite the recent acquisition of Test-size covers, ground staff tipped water onto the playing area whilst removing them before start of play. To speed things up a burning barbecue half-drum was positioned above the patch and left to smolder for two hours.

Manicaland owe their strong position to a splendid unbeaten 137 from captain Neil Ferreira. It was his highest first-class score to date, his third of the season and the sixth of his career. Offering only one chance on 88, his control was total -- being particularly severe off the back foot through the covers. Even before the innings he was talking of a possible move next season to Harare to further his prospects. His record and commitment continue to be ignored by the selectors-- even at A team level. As with cricket all over the world, to get noticed you need to play in the capital city. It's ironic that senior players like Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower and Paul Strang have moved away from Harare this season to rediscover team-values and spirit in Manicaland.

After an opening stand of 126 with 16-year-old schoolboy Tino Mawoyo (37), Ferreira was joined by Leon Soma who blitzed a smoking 52-ball 75. His style of controlled mayhem is a psychological crusher from number three. `Pommie' Mbangwa – recently back from Zimbabwe's tour of India -- was launched for consecutive overs of 18 and 15.

Missing Heath Streak -- required on the family farm during the biggest crisis to face the Zimbabwe farming community -- the Matabeleland attack lacked the firepower to overcome a benign pitch. Opening bowler Matt Townshend – son of team-manager and ex national off-spinner `Dobbo' – was the best – mixing up in-swingers and slow balls -- but even he could not overcome the conditions. With half-an-hour being added to the second day Manicaland will look to score quickly and declare by tea to give themselves a chance of bowling the opposition out twice.

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