First-class cricket comes to Mutare Sports Club

Mutare Sports Club celebrated its inaugural first-class match rather wetly, and less than half of the first day's play was possible, only that due to superb work on the part of the local authorities. Manicaland, put in to bat, finished the day on 102 for two.

Despite some wet days during the week, the ground had remained fairly dry, thanks largely to the new extensive covers bought by the club. However, on the eve of the match there was steady rain for most of the night which left a fair portion of the lower end of the ground in standing water. Play looked quite unlikely on the first day, but Manicaland player Steve Lawson runs a swimming pool business and got his pumps to work, while the ground staff and local officials worked hard, the boundary was brought in on one side and the sun shone intermittently. Conditions were still not good, but since the sides are predominantly amateur they were keen to play if at all possible! Play was scheduled to start at 2.15, but more rain seemed to be approaching and the start was delayed in anticipation of it, which would have been disastrous. Fortunately it blew away, and the players eventually took the field at three o'clock.

Gus Mackay, replacing Trevor Penney who had returned to Warwickshire in the team and taking over as captain, won the toss and decided to field, despite the likelihood of a wet ball. Also new to the Mashonaland team were Darlington Matambanadzo and Gary du Plessis, replacing Brad Robinson and Brighton Watambwa. Manicaland were strengthened by the return of the Whittall cousins, although Guy cannot yet bowl, in place of James Sparrow and Brian James, who became twelfth man.

Everton Matambanadzo bowled Mutare Sports Club's inaugural first-class delivery, and Neil Ferreira turned it to long leg for two. Runs came slowly after that, even though the bowling sometimes lacked accuracy. The outfield was naturally slow after all the rain, and also due to the fuel crisis it had not been properly cut, so the grass was thick. One fielder early on slipped on a wet patch at midwicket and took a nasty tumble.

Tea was declared to have been taken before the match started, which left potentially a three-hour session of 45 overs, light and weather permitting. Ferreira and Patrick Gada put on 28 for the first wicket before Gada (13) pushed forward to a delivery outside off stump from du Plessis and edged a catch to keeper Don Campbell.

Mark Burmester soon brought a greater air of aggression to the batting, driving and pulling powerfully when he received a loose ball, but often failing to get full value for his strokes. He overtook the watchful Ferreira in the twenties, but fell with his score on 39. As he tried to reverse-sweep Viljoen - the first time he had ever attempted the shot in a match, he said - the ball looped over the keeper's head, and Campbell ran back to catch it; he was given out perhaps controversially

This slowed the scoring rate, as Brent came in as night-watchman and played for the close. Ferreira kept chugging along, relying on nudges and pushes with an occasional cut or sweep, and Manicaland were 102 for two at the close (Ferreira 39, Brent 5). But more rain is very possible tomorrow.