Mashonaland v Matabeleland Sep19-22 2003 - day 4 report by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Mashonaland v Matabeleland

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Overnight: Mashonaland 270 and 442/6 dec; Matabeleland 289 and 82/3 off 16 overs (Nkala 28*, Dabengwa 0*), needing 424 to win.
Lunch: Matabeleland (2) 243/6 off 53 overs (Streak 12*, Strydom 10*).
Result: Matabeleland all out 292; Mashonaland won by 131 runs.

Mashonaland achieved their expected victory over Matabeleland midway through the afternoon session, dismissing the visitors for 292 and winning by 131 runs. They did not bowl particularly well, thus prolonging the match somewhat, but Matabeleland were not able to capture the vision of an unlikely victory.

At the start of the day, overnight batsmen Mluleki Nkala and Keith Dabengwa were soon helping themselves to some easy runs off unthreatening bowling. Andy Blignaut seemed bored, while suffering from a swollen knee, and the others were quite ineffective on a pitch that was still playing very well but did give some assistance to bowlers prepared to bend their backs.

Off-spinner Tinashe Ruswa finally broke through, bowling night-watchman Dabengwa for 31 after an hour’s play; 132 for four. Gavin Ewing replaced him and immediately began to play his shots, in particular driving powerfully. Blignaut returned refreshed for a second spell and quickly Nkala, who always looked good, with a good catch at the wicket by Tatenda Taibu. He became bouncer-happy against Ewing, who slashed him over third man for six, and then swung Mwayenga over square leg for another six to reach his second fifty of the match, both at better than a run a ball.

Ewing swung once too often at the erratic Waddington Mwayenga, though, and edged a catch to Taibu, departing for 62. At 225 for six, Matabeleland were slowly subsiding, but Heath Streak was still there. Greg Strydom was in attacking mode from the start, but he again showed a tendency to play the pace of Blignaut from square leg. Finally after lunch Jordane Nicolle surprised and bowled him for 15 with a yorker.

On the whole, though, Blignaut and Nicolle seemed determined to bounce the batsmen out. The last faint hopes Matabeleland had of a near-impossible victory disappeared when Streak, trying to hook Nicolle, gloved the ball and was caught by Taibu down the leg side. He scored 27 and Matabeleland were on their way out at 278 for eight.

With Pommie Mbangwa at the crease, no bets would be placed on Matabeleland, although this time he made 20 before holing out at long-on off Ruswa. Finally Norman Mukondiwa skied a catch to mid-off off Nicolle without scoring, leaving Ryan Bennett unbeaten with 8. Matabeleland were all out for 292 and Mashonaland had performed another escape, perserving their eight-year unbeaten run after another erratic performance.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 John Ward)