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.