Mashonaland come from behind to beat Manicaland by 73 runs

In a dramatic turnaround Mashonaland came from behind to beat Manicaland by 73 runs at Mutare Sports Club yesterday. Resuming the day on 290 for six (effectively 3 for six after being forced to follow on 287 runs behind), Mashonaland hit themselves out of trouble and set Manicaland a victory target of 219 off 46 overs.

Craig Evans had the day of his life, taking his overnight score of 109 to 210 (33 fours, one six) before demolishing Manicaland with six for 37 off 16 overs. This was his top score in first-class cricket, eclipsing a previous best 153 (also in the Logan Cup) against Matabeleland. A huge bear of man - nicknamed Obelix by one brave Manica - his runs came off 273 balls in 373 minutes of machismo theatre. Much more than a mere slogger, he would however shudder if people should remember him as a worker or nudger of the ball.

Donald Campbell hit 54 (8 fours, one six), sharing a 189-run partnership with Evans for the seventh wicket before falling to a slow ball from Guy Whittall. Whittall was the pick of the Manicaland bowlers, finishing with four for 80 off 23 overs, but needed better fielding and better support to embarrass Mashonaland a second time. He worried all the batsmen - deceptively mixing off and leg cutters, in-swingers and 140-km effort balls - but in the end was overwhelmed by fatigue and the weight of team expectancy. A measure of frustration erupted after being hit for two sixes by new batsman Gus Mackay as he lashed a return throw in his direction.

Mackay's 68 (6 fours, 4 sixes), which added 96 for the eighth wicket, was the straw that broke Manicaland. They never anticipating chasing more than 50 for victory. Their tactics of refusing the new ball proved disastrous - wickets never came, runs mounted, fielding worsened, heads dropped, recriminations mounted and failure loomed. When they did take the new ball in the 115th over, Mashonaland collapsed within a few overs.

With an even time 79-run opening partnership between Neil Ferreira (39) and Tino Mawoyo (38), Manicaland looked on course. An unlucky late cut that dragged onto the stumps by Ferreira precipitated a slide no one could halt. Mashonaland changed tactics by slowing the game down and bowling leg theory. Sims was sucked in after five balls, chipping an innocuous leg-stumper to short midwicket.

Panic set in as first Kingsley Went then the Soma brothers departed cheaply. Evans was wheeling in off three paces like a vulture, hitting the seam, bouncing it, cutting it, remorselessly searching. Mashonaland were now running between overs fearing their earlier negativity would cost them. Once Whittall flashed the game was up, although the tail fought bravely to within touching distance of safety.