Ebrahim lifts Manicaland to convincing win

Manicaland 181 and 371 (Marumisa 59, Ebrahim 188, Nicolson 4-68) beat Midlands 239 and 207 (Matsikenyeri 3-58) by 106 runs
Scorecard

Half an hour before the scheduled close on the third day at Mutare Sports Club, Manicaland beat Midlands by 106 runs. The decisive performance of the match was the monumental innings of 188 by the home captain Dion Ebrahim.

Ebrahim was unbeaten on 166 overnight, but he was unrecognisable as the same player as he crept towards a possible maiden double-century before finally slashing at one from Amos Maungwa and being caught behind for 188. He shared a century partnership for the sixth wicket with Tinashe Panyangara, who made 54. The most impressive Midlands bowler was the debutant Ian Nicolson, who worked up a fair degree of pace and surprised some of the batsmen with his bounce in taking 4 for 68.

Midlands, set 314 to win, were dismissed for 207. Again none of their batsmen was able to play the major innings required, although Innocent Chikunya was top-scorer with 46 and Ed Rainsford caused some excitement with four huge sixes in one over from Stuart Matsikenyeri while scoring 39. Matsikenyeri finished as the most successful bowler with 3 for 58 to follow his 5 for 41 in the first innings.