CFX Academy take clear advantage after 2 days

LOGAN CUP REPORT: CFX ACADEMY v MATABELELAND, Day 2

By John Ward

In a shortened second day's play a Country Club, when just under three hours were possible, the CFX Academy took a clear advantage in the match, but found their hopes of reaching next week's final slipping away. At the close they were 59 runs ahead with three first-innings wickets still intact.

Heavy overnight rain left the Country Club field soaked, and despite a sunny day the start had to be delayed until 3pm, with tea taken early. The field was still slippery in places, but the players were keen to get moving. With the news that Mashonaland had massacred Midlands on a sub-standard pitch at Harare Sports Club, the position became clear for the Academy: they needed to score 300 runs and also win the match outright in order to reach the final against Manicaland. If 300 became impossible, Strang said he would declare and 'make a game of it' with Matabeleland.

Alister Maregwede was soon under way with a beautifully timed on-drive for four off Senyo Nyakutse, and both batsmen batted enterprisingly right from the start. Maregwede's off-driving was particularly impressive, and without the injured Matthew Townshend the Matabeleland bowling was lacking in bite. Lamb continued to score briskly with ones and twos, and ran to a fluent fifty. Maregwede was unfortunately to miss his, driving at Nyakutse and being caught by wicket-keeper Colin Delport for 45, after a partnership of 101.

Travis Friend settled in quietly, while Lamb continued to play his strokes with confidence and fluency until he drove outside the off stump at left-arm spinner Keith Dabengwa and was caught at the wicket for 78, his highest first-class score. The Academy were 163 for four, and still on course for 300. Colin Delport quickly hit a catch straight to midwicket, which was put down, but he did not thrive on his escape, hitting Dabengwa high and deep, but not quite hard enough, to be caught by Siziba at wide long-on for 7.

Paul Strang soon settled into an enterprising partnership with Friend, as the pair placed the ball well and ran swiftly between the wickets. Friend had an escape when he skyed a ball over extra cover, but the fielders were unable to get there in time. The partnership came to a disappointing end when Friend turned a ball to square leg, both batsmen started off but changed their minds too late as Commerford swooped in and returned the ball to the keeper, Friend being run out for 48.

Jason Young, still suffering from his foot injury, came in with Richard Sims as a runner, and concentrated on holding his end up. Strang hit Dabengwa for a straight six and used his feet well against his fellow spinner. The light deteriorated, but Matabeleland used their spinners. Strang (37) fell as he tried to sweep Dabengwa, only to be given out with front foot well down the pitch, to make the score 235 for seven. At this the umpires decided the light was bad enough to call off play five minutes early, but it was perhaps too late for the Academy, whose chances of reaching 300 were dealt a serious blow with the loss of Strang. Young was left not out with 2.