After the second day of their match against Manicaland at the beautiful, if often damp, Mutare Sports Club, PG Timbers Mashonaland had played themselves into an unassailable position.

Belying their reputation of starting many of their matches at half pace, they hammered a mammoth 640 runs before declaring, statistically just inferior to their own Logan Cup record of 644 scored against Matabeleland last season, but more impressive as this time they had only four wickets down as against nine on that occasion.

Mashonaland's top scorer was Craig Evans, aged 33 and at his peak of maturity as a batsman. Last season he hit 210 here to lead an incredible fightback that brought his team an astonishing victory after following on. This time he exceeded that with an unbeaten 228, still hitting powerfully but showing that extra discretion that has brought him 912 runs in his last six Logan Cup matches. Evans, in the past considered a one-day specialist at international level, last played a one-day international two and a half years ago, but is determined to win back his place for the coming World Cup.

Evans was assisted by two maiden centuries. Dion Ebrahim already has a one-day century to his credit, although Bangladesh as opposition are at present nothing to boast about, but this was his first century at first-class level. He might have made it a double, being 178 overnight, but was able to add only four runs to that score on the second morning.

The other was by Tatenda Taibu, who seized his opportunity due to Andy Flower's being unwell. It was a particular pleasure to see him scoring an unbeaten 114, and hopefully this will add to his confidence and help him to score the runs of which he is capable at international level. Evans shared partnerships of 284 and 226 unbroken with these two.

The captaincy of Henry Olonga, posted to Manicaland by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union simply to strengthen them for the Logan Cup, came under some criticism. His bowling changes at times showed lack of imagination and he maintained an attacking field for much too long. With the batsmen well set and on top on a shirt-front pitch, he would have been expected to guard his boundaries better, but instead his unrealistically close fields allowed the Mashonaland batsmen too many easy runs. Still, it is a better fault than being too defensive, but the field must match the situation.

As the innings continued well into the second day, the Manicaland fielders wilted, and although they missed no chances – neither did they received any on Day Two – there were too many misfields, the bowlers lost accuracy, and in the end Evans and Taibu were scoring virtually at will. The declaration came just after lunch, and the overall scoring rate was nearer five than four to the over. Off-spinner Richie Sims set an unwanted record by becoming the first Zimbabwean bowler to concede 200 runs in an innings in domestic first-class cricket, but he bowled better than his figures suggest and suffered more than any from too attacking a field.

In reply Manicaland did not collapse, but neither did they fill their boots on the fine pitch. Neil Ferreira, always the backbone of the Manicaland batting, cannot succeed every time, but he survived a torrid opening spell from Gus Mackay and his 42 did give his team a solid start. Four other batsmen passed 20 but failed to capitalize, the top scorer being Alistair Campbell with 62.

Stuart Matsikenyeri and Guy Croxford should have seen out the day, but neither showed the discretion warranted, and Croxford finally gave his wicket away in disappointing fashion just before the close. Barring some remarkable performance – and Guy Whittall, the one man likely to provide it if anybody did, is out injured – Manicaland seem doomed to follow on and slide to an innings defeat.

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