Dynamic Dabengwa does battle in vain

Mashonaland 331 and 353 for 4 dec beat Matabeleland 220 and 206 (Dabengwa 65) by 258 runs
Scorecard

A defiant half-century from Keith Dabengwa could not save Matabeleland as Mashonaland cruised to a 258-run victory on the fourth and final day of the Logan Cup match at Bulawayo Athletic Club.

Dabengwa, who came in at No. 9, hit two huge sixes and nine fours on his way to 65 off 58 balls which gave the small crowd something to cheer about in this one-sided encounter. He was the last man out as Matabeleland, who were bowled out for 220 in the first innings, were skittled for 206 in their second attempt.

Matabeleland, chasing 465, resumed from their overnight total of 34 for 2, with Sean Williams and Mark Vermeulen at the crease. But Vermeulen soon perished when he fell to Waddington Mwayenga as he edged through to Tatenda Taibu. Matabeleland then lost their fourth wicket as Douglas Hondo bowled Williams for 19 (65 for 4). Hondo picked up a second as he trapped Gregory Strydom for 18.

Next ball, Mbekezeli Mabuza attempted to pull Hondo: but he miscued, and skied a simple catch for Taibu which left Matabeleland wobbling on 70 for 6. Mluleki Nkala, the Matabeleland captain, and Gavin Ewing stabilised their innings with a seventh-wicket stand of 45, but this ended when Ewing was dismissed by Chamunorwa Chibhabha, caught at mid-off by Chigumbura for 27.

Nkala and Dabengwa played some beautiful strokes, and put on 52 before Nkala was trapped by legspinner Graeme Cremer. Dabengwa, whose fifty came up from 41 balls, put on 25 for the last wicket with Simba Kusano. But then Dabengwa gave Cremer his third wicket when he was caught at silly mid-on by Tafadzwa Mufambisi just after lunch, and Mashonaland wrapped up a winning start to the campaign.