Westerns continue to dominate

Westerns made it two out of two with a four-wicket win over Kenya Select at Bulwayo in a low-scoring match which only just made it into the fourth day. On a below-par pitch, the spinners dominated with Keith Dabengwa taking 8 for 84 to add to his seven-wicket haul in the first round while Hiren Varaiya and Collins Obuya took 10 of the 16 Westerns wickets to fall. The Kenyans had Tanmay Mishra to thank for bailing out their first innings, his 89 forming the backbone of their 218. Set 176 to win, Charles Coventry paved the way with 76. The visitors will be disappointed with the result but heartened by the way they battled, and it should be remembered that they had less than 48 hours to acclimatise to the conditions.

Northerns, who dominated the competition when they were Mashonaland and are the Logan Cup holders, were trounced in three days by seven wickets at Kwekwe by Centrals. On another substandard surface, Northerns took a first-innings lead of 62 but then Ed Rainsford, who took a career-best 6 for 20, blew them away second time round for 69. Set 132 to win, Centrals lost two early wickets before E Chauluka (43*) and Walter Chawaguta (29*) guided them home.

Easterns, who drew in the first round, eased past Southerns by 183 runs thanks to hundreds from Stuart Matsikenyeri and newcomer Stephen Nyamuzinga.