Matabeleland power into pole position

Matabeleland maintained their winning start to this season's Faithwear provincial one-day tournament with a five-wicket win over Midlands at Harare Sports Club. While the result was not as convincing as yesterday's drubbing of Mashonaland, it marked them as firm favourites to retain their title.

On a slow pitch which made run-scoring hard, Midlands never got on top of the bowling, although Visu Sibanda's cameo of 22 at a run a ball briefly enlivened a drab display. Opener Bothwell Chapungu, is his first one-day match, laboured for more than hour making 8, and it took some late-order defiance from Anthony Ireland to guide Midlands past three figures. Mashonaland's bowlers struggled for consistency, conceding 22 wides and no-balls.

Although Terry Duffin fell early, Matabeleland had plenty of time to chase 115 and never looked too ruffled, with two late wickets giving the scoreline a more even look.