Manicaland v Midlands Sep 2003 - report by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Manicaland v Midlands

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Manicaland dominated this match from the start, as the talented but enigmatic Midlands side again failed to perform to potential. Poor bowling on the first day enabled the home side to run up 348 for just four wickets, the highlight being a fine attacking century by all-rounder Richie Sims. He was dropped on 32, and two more catches went down in the field during the day.

Midlands were let down by their seamers, who bowled a poor line, apart from Sean Ervine, who was however restricted by back trouble. Ervine quickly dismissed the Manicaland captain Neil Ferreira, bowling him two exceptional deliveries in his third over, the second of which had him caught at the wicket. But after that the in-form opener Trevor Gripper and the aggressive Richie Sims took over and gave their team a grip they never relinquished on the usual batting paradise at Mutare Sports Club. To their credit, Midlands bowled 109 overs on the first day, 11 above the requisite 98 in 6½ hours’ play.

20 wickets fell on the second day, but the pitch was blameless. The Midlands bowling improved, while the Manicaland tail batted poorly, although Barney Rogers went on to a cultured century. Pace bowler Amos Maungwa took the last five wickets to fall, bowling much better than on the first day, although perhaps his final figures were a little flattering as several batsmen assisted in their own dismissals.

Manicaland maintained their grip with a fine bowling performance, with medium-fast Academy graduate Piet Rinke best of all. Rinke has the ability, like the late Paddy Clift, to move the ball either way both in the air and off the pitch, and with more consistency could well be a contender for the national side. Here he bowled a good line, forcing the batsmen to play, and returned the best figures of his career with six for 43.

The Midlands batting showed all too little application and responsibility. Vusi Sibanda was their top scorer with a good-looking 42, but still sells his ability short. Only Raymond Price, with 35, applied himself down the order and Midlands were forced to follow on. Their first four batsmen were out for 115 before the close, and a three-day innings defeat loomed.

Midlands had perhaps the better of the third day, although they did well enough only to postpone defeat for a day. Their fightback centred on a 163-run partnership for the eighth wicket, just 12 runs short of the national record, between wicketkeeper Alester Maregwede and left-arm spinner Raymond Price, who has batted at number eleven for Zimbabwe in Test cricket, although he has opened the batting for Midlands in the past.

Price was the dominant figure, constantly encouraging Maregwede, taking most of the bowling and overtaking his partner, who had a 40-run start. Before Maregwede fell for 90, Price had reached his maiden first-class century and was still not out with 117 when the innings closed.

Manicaland needed 152 to win, and they coasted to victory on the final morning. Ed Rainsford bowled well and dismissed Ferreira for 14, but Trevor Gripper is in the best form of his life and Richie Sims was keen to get the match over with quickly. Sims hit four sixes, but survived two chances, to finish unbeaten with 56, while Gripper made 72. Victory went to Manicaland by nine wickets.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 John Ward)