Blignaut powers Alex to victory

Blignaut Powers Alex to Victory

Despite the somewhat premature commencement of this year's rains, two of the three scheduled Vigne Cup fixtures were completed this weekend in Harare. The match between Old Hararians and Harare Sports Club was called off after OH were surprisingly unable to raise a side. All of the sides lost players to the Zimbabwe Board XI which did battle against South African side Kwazulu Natal in Kwekwe.

Promising all-rounder Andy Blignaut continued his impressive early season form, scoring a century for Alex against Old Georgians on the weekend to steer his side to their second win in the Vigne Cup. The 22-year-old former Academy player has been in tremendous form with the bat so far this season after a long injury layoff, and although not yet fully fit, must surely be nudging the national selectors. The big-hitting left-hander forced his way into the national one-day side last year and has played in seven one-day internationals, including three against Australia. He was selected for the Zimbabwe Test side to play against South Africa in Bloemfontein last year, but was forced to withdraw due a back muscle injury. He has an encouraging cricketing pedigree, having represented Zimbabwe at Under-15 and Under 19-levels, as well as Zimbabwe A. Last year he gained a place in the Zimbabwe Academy and attended the Dennis Lillee MRF Pace Foundation fast bowling clinic in India.

Defending champions Alex, depleted by the absence of captain Gavin Rennie and Jason Young, racked up an imposing 293/9 in their allotted 50 overs, with Blignaut accounting for nearly half the total. The OG's bowling figures were mostly spoiled by Blignaut's onslaught, but Rogers stood out with 1/24 off his 10 overs.

Old Georgians were without their match-winning batsman Craig Evans as well as the experienced Craig Wishart who both did duty in Kwekwe. The absence of Evans in particular was a blow for Old Georgians, as he has been in particularly devastating form with bat this season, and another quickfire innings from him was just what was required. The fact that Evans was simultaneously slaughtering the Natal bowlers in Kwekwe was small consolation for O.G.s who, despite a valiant century from opener Lance Malloch-Brown, fell short of the target by 25 runs. O.G.s started well with the top order all making starts, and with Grant Flower in to bat at four, there was always a chance. But Doug Marillier, playing the unfamiliar role of bowler, bagged the wickets of Flower and Rogers and precipitated a disastrous collapse as John Vaughan-Davies and Blignaut wrapped up the lower order.

In the other match of the weekend, a depleted Universals defeated Winstonians by 68 runs. Universals were without their front-line bowlers Douglas Hondo, Everton Matambanadzo and David Mutendera as well as star batsman Dion Ebrahim, all selected for the Board XI, and Hitesh Hira and Brad Robinson are both out for several weeks with injury, whilst Winstonians were missing Tatenda Taibu to the Board XI.

Universals batted first and the young Winstonians bowlers struggled to contain the run rate despite an early wicket to Malingwa. Trevor Madondo, recalled to the Zimbabwe Test squad for India, could not capitalize on the good start, but Darlington Matambanadzo and Hamid Aqdam consolidated the innings with a century partnership. Matambanadzo scored 78 and Imran Meman and Waqar Ali scored valuable runs at the end of the innings to take Universals to 272/5. The total was always likely to be out of reach for Winstonians, but they took the fight to the depleted Universals attack with defiant knocks in the middle order from Mirambaguhwa, Chawaguta and Stuart Matsikenyeri who was particularly impressive, smiting six fours off one over from Shiraz Shah. But some tight bowling from the leg spin/off spin combination of the Adams brothers and two run-outs snuffed out the Winstonians challenge.