Rinke increases Midlands' woes

Midlands 153 and 115 for 4 trail Manicaland 435 by 167 runs
Scorecard

After the run-feast on the first day at the Mutare Sports Club, the bowlers had their day on Day Two, with 20 wickets falling compared to four yesterday. Conditions remained the same, but the bowling was simply better and the batting worse.

The star of the day was Piet Rinke, a CFX Academy graduate who can move the ball both ways both in the air and off the seam. He bowled a good line, forcing the batsmen to play, and recorded the best figures of his brief career with 6 for 43.

The Midlands batsmen for their part showed a lack of application and responsibility. Vusi Sibanda began with a flashing 42, Raymond Price applied himself down the order with 35, but nobody else distinguished themselves as Midlands were tumbled out for 153 and forced to follow on. At the close they had lost their first four batsmen for 115.

In the morning session, Barney Rogers completed his century before being dismissed for 117, and Manicaland made 435. Amos Maungwa took the last five wickets to fall for 61 runs, figures a little flattering as the batsmen played poorly, but he bowled much straighter than yesterday.