Zimbabwe club cricket report

Despite the marginally early wet weather that the country has experienced of late, all of the Castle Lager National First League matches were played this weekend with minimal disruption. In contrast to the matches played to date this season, it was the batsmen who tended to dominate proceedings, and Trevor Penney and Dirk Viljoen notched up the first centuries of the season.

Batting first against Universals, Penney and Viljoen rescued the home side from a perilous position with a 220-run partnership to steer OH to a healthy 275/6. Viljoen has been in good form with the bat on the international stage recently, scoring 60 and 63 not out in the Sharjah tournament, and is likely to be a thorn in the flesh of other teams in weeks to come.

Universals batted valiantly in pursuit of the 276 they needed to win, with solid contributions from Ali Shah, Dion Ebrahim and Darlington Matambanadzo, but the lower order collapsed to hand victory to OH by 32 runs.

Old Georgians maintained their unbeaten run in the league with a win over the young Winstonians side, who have yet to register a win this season. Winstonians posted a respectable total of 217 all out, but failed to bat through their allotted overs, a factor which probably cost them the game in the end. Stewart Matsikenyeri, a former U19 national player, continued his good form with a well-played 60 and was supported in the middle order by Chawaguta and Manyande. Craig Evans and Gus Mackay were the most successful bowlers with three wickets apiece.

Old Georgians did not have things all their own way in their turn to bat, despite a solid start. OGs looked at one stage to be cruising to comfortable victory, until wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu took the ball and snatched four quick wickets, including danger man Craig Evans and captain Gus Mackay. But the flurry of wickets was not enough to prevent OGs from reaching 218/8 and registering their third successive win in the league.

At Alexandra Sports Club, the high-riding home side took on Harare Sports Club. The visitors clearly missed the services of Stuart Carlisle, away on tour with the Test side in India, as they struggled to muster 201/9, thanks mainly to a fine effort in the lower middle order by Oldrieve and Croxford. Alex were immediately in trouble in their reply as Eddo Brandes once again bowled magnificently to knock over the Alex top order. Anthony Brooks trapped Andy Blignaut in front for 3 and Sports Club sensed victory. But once Brandes was rested, the Alex batsmen were able to settle and rebuild the innings and eventually canter to victory with more than 10 overs to spare and two wickets in hand.

In Bulawayo, the two local sides clashed and as expected Queens proved too strong for the struggling Mac Club who lost by 69 runs. Queens notched a modest 226/8 in their 50 overs, but Macs could only score 157 in reply.

In Mutare, the local side hosted newcomers KweKwe in the first clash between the two rural sides. Overnight rain delayed the start due to water getting under the covers onto the pitch, and the match was reduced to 40 overs a side. Kwekwe captain Colin Sanders won the toss, and fearing further rain and a possible interference by Duckworth-Lewis, opted to bat first. However, Kwekwe did not make the most of their opportunity, and despite 54 from Raymond Price and 43 from Dave Houghton, were dismissed for 142. Mutare timed their reply to perfection, reaching 143/6 with one over to spare.

On Saturday, Winstonians played Universals, a match that was originally scheduled for 16 October, but was postponed due to dissent over the allocation of Academy players to regional sides. Universals easily defeated Winstonians by 118 runs after Alester Maregwede and Dion Ebrahim had flayed the Winstonians attack with a partnership which fell just short of 200. Maregwede scored the third century of the weekend with 108, boosting Universals to an imposing 261/5. The target proved well beyond the reach of Winstonians who were never in with a realistic chance as they succumbed to 143 all out.

The league now takes a break until 3 December, when OGs will host OH, and Universals will host Alex in the key matches.