Two differing innings dominated the second day's play, as Matabeleland took
the lead against the CFX Academy and were 323 for six at the close. Greg
Strydom hit an aggressive 91 while Wisdom Siziba, handicapped by injury,
held the innings together with a dogged fifty.
The Matabeleland opening pair batted fairly sedately for half an hour,
adding 24 to their overnight 10, before Stuart Walker (8) was trapped lbw by
fellow debutant Colin Miller-type left-arm bowler Tom Benade, bowling in his
seam mode.
Gavin Ewing, slightly overweight, talented but a little rustic at times, was
more aggressive, strongest on the pull; aided by some short-pitched bowling,
he reached his fifty off 55 balls with three pulls to the boundary off the
obliging Innocent Chinyoka. The bowlers finally learned their lesson, and
Ewing had no more `freebies'; on 58 he hammered Rushambwa into the covers
where Chinyoka dived low to pick up one more to add to his remarkable tally
of catches so far this Logan Cup season.
Ryan King, out of form, has a problem of walking across his stumps too much,
and was soon lbw to Piet Rinke for 7, making Matabeleland 100 for three.
Strydom began aggressively, like Ewing feasting to the full off the plethora
of short deliveries, but when that supply dried up exhibited some attractive
straight drives, some lofted. At lunch he had 22, having overtaken number
three Siziba, who was struggling to find his touch due to a minor hand
injury suffered in the field on the first day.
After lunch, Siziba hung in there with his usual dogged concentration, while
Strydom played more aggressively, selecting his scoring shots generally with
discretion. His occasional indiscretions were overlooked by the Academy,
who dropped two chances, one hard and one easier. Again he was severe on
the short deliveries, and again the Academy bowlers were too obliging at
times.
Eventually Benade, in left-arm spin mode, broke the partnership with a
quicker ball that yorked Strydom for 91, scored out of a stand of 125.
Keith Dabengwa was badly dropped off a skyer into the covers, but failed to
profit, as he was beaten and bowled by a ball, from Benade again, that spun
sharply out of the rough, still without scoring. At this vital point
Matabeleland were 225 for five.
Siziba reached his fifty soon after tea, off 207 balls, a dour effort but
courageous and determined considering his hand injury. Mark McKillop kept
him company and Matabeleland went into the lead just after the second new
ball was taken. Chinyoka did not need its assistance to break the stand,
though, as McKillop (49) got an inside edge to a full toss and edged the
ball on to his stumps.
Andre Hoffman hand not bowled earlier due to a sore back, but then came on
to dismiss Clement Mahachi (6) and Matthew Townshend (0) in one over just
before the close, when Siziba remained unbeaten with 70 after batting for
six hours.