Match report day 2 Matabeleland v Mashonaland, Logan Cup 2003/04 by Mehluli Sibanda

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Scorecard:

Matabeleland v Mashonaland

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FORMER Zimbabwe senior national cricket team captain Heath Streak put up a stunning all round performance as Matabeleland made inroads for victory on the second day of their inter-provincial Logan Cup match at Queens Sports Club yesterday.

 

Streak, who resigned as national team captain on Friday evening, scored 107 runs from 155 balls, dispatched 18 fours and one six in exactly three hours as Matabeleland, in reply to Mashonaland’s first innings score of 285, were all out for 274. He went on pick up four wickets in quick succession to leave the visitors reeling on 90 for the loss of four wickets with a lead of only 101 at the close of play.

 

Matabeleland resumed from their overnight total of 18 without loss with their openers Wisdom Siziba and Mbekezeli the two men at the crease. The two added only two runs to Matabeleland’s overnight score before Mabuza was dismissed by pace bowler David Mutendera, caught by Tatenda Taibu for seven runs.

 

Mutendera picked up his second wicket when he had Mluleki Nkala caught by Dion Ebrahim for a duck. The home side were reduced to 33 for the loss of three wickets when Gregory Strydom became Mutendera’s third victim, caught by Tinashe Ruswa for two runs. Streak joined Siziba in Matabeleland s quest to avoid the follow on. The duo endued some hostile bowling from the Mashonaland bowlers and produced some brilliant running between the wickets. Streak reached the half-century mark after facing 73 balls with nine fours in 90 minutes at the crease.

 

Matabeleland lost their fourth wicket when Siziba nicked a delivery from Alexander Mlambo to be caught behind by wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Mufambisi for 27 runs. Left-handed Keith Dabengwa joined streak and the two put up 64 runs for the fifth wicket, which was broken, when Dabengwa fell to off spinner Ruswa with Dion Ebrahim taking a brilliant one handed catch at first slip to send Dabengwa back to the pavilion for 37 runs.

 

Streak combined with Tawanda Mupariwa and the two punished the Mashonaland bowlers with Streak getting his century off 148 balls with 17 fours and a six. He finally departed when Chamunorwa Chibhabha bowled him after putting up a sixth wicket stand of 64 with Mupariwa.

 

Mupariwa continued to frustrate the Mashonaland bowlers and became the prime target as wickets fell and he continued to hold his own. The home side were finished when Mupariwa was run out for 37 going for a quick single.

 

Mutendera was the pick of the Mashonaland bowlers with four wickets at the expense of 60 runs from 15 overs with two maidens while Ruswa was close behind with three wickets which came at the costs of 56 runs from 16 overs with four maidens.

 

In their second innings Mashonaland got off to a disastrous start when Eric Chauluka was dismissed by Streak, caught at gully by Mabuza for 12 runs. Streak claimed his second wicket when he had Johnson Marumisa caught at first slip by Nkala for a duck.

 

Taibu was Streak’s third victim when he played forward and was clean bowled for a duck. Ebrahim was Streak’s fourth wicket when he lofted the fast bowler to fine leg where Mupariwa took a one handed catch to dismiss the Mashonaland opener for five runs. Mufambisi and Chamunorwa Chibhabha were the two men at the crease on 32 and 27 respectively.

 

Streak finished with remarkable figures of four for 31 from just nine overs with one maiden.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Mehluli Sibanda)