Mashonland win Logan Cup despite spirited resistance from Manicaland

It took Mashonaland until just after tea to wrap up the Logan Cup final, winning by 257 runs, after some spirited resistance at times from Manicaland, who played the game in fine spirit throughout, as indeed they have done all season. Neil Ferreira and Stuart Matsikenyeri scored determined fifties, while Gavin Rennie, who has been bowling regularly again this season after virtually giving up his left-arm spin due to back trouble, took seven wickets.

Mashonaland declared overnight, setting Manicaland a mere 498 to win. Manicaland were determined not to give in weakly, but the odds were stacked against them, despite Mashonaland's rather apathetic attitude in the field at times. Steve Lawson this time opened with Neil Ferreira, but had scored only 7 before popping up a ball from Gus Mackay backward of square on the leg side, for Everton Matambanadzo to dive and catch.

Then came a determined stand between Ferreira and Patrick Gada, both looking secure and playing each ball on its merits until, with the total on 51, Gada thrust his pad at a straight ball from Gavin Rennie, misreading the arm ball completely, to be given out lbw for 18. In the same over Hamilton Masakadza, in contrast to his fine first-innings effort, appeared to give it away; he hit an uppish four that just cleared short mid-on, and then pushed a low return catch that Rennie dived to take.

Mark Burmester looked aggressive and hit some firm boundaries, only to be given out caught off bat and pad by Mackay off Rennie for 20. Ferreira once again held out gallantly, and just before the interval Strang bowled to him with all nine of his fielders on the off side. Ferreira waited for the right ball and then tapped it away wide of mid-on and ran three.

At lunch Manicaland were 94 for four (Ferreira 33, Matsikenyeri 7). This proved to be another useful partnership as they carried on for almost an hour after lunch, with Matsikenyeri looking increasingly confident and playing some fine drives, especially off the back foot. Finally Ferreira, driving at Hoffman, was caught at mid-on for 55, another gritty innings.

Dion Yatras announced his presence with a straight six and mixed some powerful attacking strokes with some rather ungainly defence at times. Slow spin did for him in the end, though, caught at silly point by Darlington Matambanadzo off a flighted ball from Rennie. This made the score 207 for six, and it was the beginning of the end for Manicaland, apart from some spirited batting from Matsikenyeri. Terry Denyer (0) was another lbw victim, Gripper being the bowler, while Leon Soma (7) was out to a well-judged catch by Craig Evans on the long-on boundary off Rennie. The teams went in to tea with the score on 238 for eight (Matsikenyeri 73, Brian James 3).

The match ended only minutes after tea. James hit back a return catch, then Jason Sparrow, amid great appreciation from the Manicaland contingent, recorded his first runs in first-class cricket with a nudge past the slips for two, but chopped the next ball on to his stumps to end the innings for 240. Mashonaland have not always played cricket in the best spirit this year, but they were warmly congratulated by the good-humoured Manica players, who may not have won the Logan Cup - they never expected to - but did win friends all over the country with their refreshing attitude and fine efforts in the best traditions of the game.