Old Hararians cruise to victory over Alexandra (18 Nov 1997)

From The Herald of Tuesday, 18 November, 1997

OLD HARARIANS CRUISE TO VICTORY OVER ALEXANDRA

by Jahoor Omar

Old Hararians squeezed out a narrow one-wicket victory with five balls to spare against defending champions Alexandra at Old Boys on Sunday in the fourth round of cricket matches in the Dunlop National First League.

Chasing 211 to win, Old Boys' Gavin Parker, who came to prominence earlier this year when coaching the national women's hockey team to huge defeats in the World Cup qualifier, scored the winning run off the first ball of the last over bowled by Mark Woodhouse.

Trevor Penney hit a half-century for Old Boys, who picked up their third straight win in the limited-overs competition, but the batting plaudits went to Murray Goodwin, who hit 113 with 11 fours and two sixes for Alexandra, who had won the toss and elected to bat first.

The day's highest individual contribution from the bat came from Ali Shah, who followed up his 95 not out last week with an unbeaten 150, which included 22 fours and one six.

The left-handed opening batsman and captain carried his bat through Universals' imposing 304-2 off 50 overs, receiving stout support from Kashi Burki (39), with whom he put on 93 for the first wicket, Andy Flower (76), who added 137 with him for the second, and Imran Meman (16 not out), who shared an unfinished third-wicket stand of 74.

Faced with a daunting total, the second-string Sports Club side could only muster 188-7 and lost by a whopping 116 runs.

Like Old Boys and Universals, Sports Club I also recorded their third victory in the competition, easily snuffing out the challenge of visitors Manicaland whom they thrashed by eight wickets with more than 15 overs to spare at Sports Club.

A fine all-round contribution from Mark Vermeulen, who took 4-40 and hit 53 not out, helped Sports Club I subdue Manicaland, who slumped to 122 in 42.4 overs after being put in. Sports Club I lost only two wickets and used up only 34.4 overs in getting home.

The match at Old Georgians was reduced to 45 overs a side because of the late arrival of the Bulawayo side Old Miltonians, who bowled the hosts out for 148 in 38.5 overs. Richard Becks scored 49, while John Rennie and Henry Olonga took 3-9 and 3-34 respectively.

But the bowlers' hard work was undone by their batsmen as Old Miltonians were skittled out for 125 in 42.3 overs, with two wickets apiece for Aubrey Steyn, Glen Barrett, Grant Flower and Becks, handing Old Georgians a 23-run win.

SCORES

OLD HARARIANS v ALEXANDRA

Alexandra 210-8 (M G Goodwin 115, C B Kok 29, T G Bartlett 24; T L Penney 2-20, G B Brent 2-26, P A Strang 2-38). Old Hararians 211-9 (T L Penney 56, T B Stead 48, G Parker 23*, G B Brent 23; B C Strang 4-31, M Denslow 2-26). Old Hararians won by one wicket.

UNIVERSALS v HARARE SPORTS CLUB II

Universals 304-2 (A H Shah 150*, K A Burki 38, A Flower 76). HSC II 188-7 (A A Brooks 44*, K J Davies 40; H Adam 2-34). Universals won by 116 runs.

HARARE SPORTS CLUB I v MANICALAND

Manicaland 122 (M G Burmester 35, L Adams 21; M A Vermeulen 4-40, A M Blignaut 3-17, G C Martin 2-10). Harare Sports Club I 124-2 (M A Vermeulen 53*, S V Carlisle 29, C B Wishart 25*). Harare Sports Club I won by eight wickets.

OLD GEORGIANS v OLD MILTONIANS

Old Georgians 148 (R J Becks 49, G Barrett 20; J A Rennie 3-9, H K Olonga 3-34, A R Whittall 2-53). Old Miltonians 125 (H H Streak 29, A G Huckle 27*; R J Becks 2-3, G W Flower 2-9, G Barrett 2-25, A G Steyn 2-28). Old Georgians won by 23 runs.

Source: From The Herald