The saga of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, between the hosts and India, was rather a fiasco. The first attempt was rained off just as India had begun their reply, but a reserve day had been set aside for just such an eventuality. Unfortunately we had an action reply - Sri Lanka batted first, India just began their replay when the rain came, and so the trophy was shared. It was a most unsatisfactory conclusion.

CONTENTS

• Zimbabwe A v Namibia
• Updated biographies: Douglas Hondo and Dirk Viljoen
• Provincial news
• National League scorecards
• Letters
• Yearbook
• All International Statistics

This could be solved by applying the rule that is in effect in England, where an unfinished match on the first day is not abandoned but simply continued on the second day. The abandonment of the first match could be grossly unfair: a team could be in a strong position, only to have the match washed out and find the opposition play much better second time round and actually beat them. India probably had most reason for complaint after this first washout, as they had done very well to restrain the strong Sri Lanka batting.

If the rules had stated that the match would be continued on the second day, rather than abandoned and a new match started, then a result would have been obtained before the rains came a second time. That would have been much fairer. A shared trophy satisfies nobody.

Here in Zimbabwe, Namibia are enjoying a brief tour as part of their preparations for the World Cup. They have lost two of a three-match series against Zimbabwe A so far; overwhelmed in the first match, they pressed the hosts hard the second time. The final match is to be played this Saturday, 5 October. They will want to do well again, otherwise their prospects for the World Cup will look very bleak. Lack of experience is a serious problem and they are here to get all they can.

The Logan Cup starts next week, and I am currently compiling detailed records in preparation for the new-look competition. I have completed records for Manicaland, for their three seasons in first-class cricket, and they are included here. I have also updated the individual one-day international career records of the Zimbabwe players who took part in Sri Lanka.

We interviewed Douglas Hondo after his return from a successful tour as the team's outstanding bowler, and this enabled us to update his biography. Another biography update is of Dirk Viljoen, the Midlands captain.

© Zimbabwe Cricket Union