Mashonaland A take charge against Academy

Day 1, Close of play: CFX Academy 207; Mashonaland A 88/1 (Gripper 60*, Matambanadzo 0*).

Despite a weather forecast promising floods in the immediate future, and after several hours of rain the previous day, the Alexandra Sports Club ground was dry enough for play to start on time. The Academy won the toss and decided to bat.

Terry Duffin and Andre Neethling opened with a steady partnership of 23 in 57 minutes, but once they were parted disaster struck the Academy. Neethling (8) was caught in the gully off Andy Blignaut, and one run later Duffin (9) snicked a catch to wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu off the same bowler. Then Ryan Butterworth was controversially given out caught at the wicket without scoring, and the Academy slumped to 24 for three.

Barney Rogers and Guy Croxford played themselves in and then decided on positive tactics to ease the crisis. Mashonaland A captain Everton Matambanadzo used seven bowlers, including three unimpressive spinners, to try to break their partnership, but they were still together at lunch. Croxford was the more aggressive of the two, pulling anything short severely, while Rogers again showed the same consistency and class that he displayed in the Academy's first two matches.

They took their stand to 114 before Rogers (48) received a ball from Brighton Watambwa that reared off the pitch and flicked his glove on the way to the keeper. Then wickets began to fall at steady intervals. The bowlers learned not to bowl short to Croxford, who responded with some slightly chancy back-foot drives, and finally fell for 80 when a high full toss from Matambanadzo took him by surprise and he top-edged a pull to mid-on.

By tea Mashonaland A could claim a slight advantage, with all the specialist batsmen gone.

The innings did not last long after tea, as the last three wickets fell for the addition of only nine runs.

Mashonaland A from the start showed their determination to build a solid foundation, with Alester Maregwede playing the anchor role and Trevor Gripper belying his reputation by scoring comparatively freely. Campbell McMillan bowled one or two superb deliveries in his opening spell but the bowling was not consistent enough to put pressure on the batsmen. The only wicket to fall was that of Maregwede, adjudged lbw to the left-arm spin of Keith Dabengwa, just before the close.