Rogers and Ewing help Matabeleland post a large total in Bulawayo

Barney Rogers cracked an unbeaten century, his second in first-class cricket, as Matabeleland recovered from a first-ball wicket to get on top of the situation on the first day of their Logan Cup match against Mashonaland at Queens Sports Club on Friday.

Coming in at number three, Rogers finished with 133 runs to his name as Matabeleland, who lost the loss and were sent in to bat, closed the first day with 391 for the loss of six wickets from 98 overs.

New Mashonaland captain Tatenda Taibu, probably trying to flex his muscles, tried in vain to have the start of the match delayed as slight drizzle started falling but he did not succeed.

If Taibu's move was meant to frustrate the batsmen, then it worked out as Matabeleland's opening partnership of Charles Coventry and Mark Vermeulen did not last. Coventry was back in the pavilion for a firstball duck when he was dismissed by Douglas Hondo. The delivery was outside the off stump and Coventry would have been wise to leave it. Instead he lunged at the ball and Grant Flower was there at gully to take the catch. Matabeleland were one down with no runs on the board.

Gavin Rennie joined Vermeulen and the runs started ticking along, with Rennie getting most of them. The usually hard-hitting Vermeulen was cautious with his strokes and took 14 balls to get off the mark, but when he did, he was on fire.

The proceedings were eventually disrupted as the drizzle grew worse with play only resuming after nine minutes.

Vermeulen and Rennie put on 99 runs for the second wicket before Vermeulen was dismissed by Waddington Mwayenga, caught behind by Taibu for 44 runs which came off 54 balls.

The left handed pair of Rogers and Rennie restored the innings with Rennie getting his half-century from 72 balls, hitting nine fours after staying at the crease for 100 minutes. Mashonaland made a change to their bowling, bringing on veteran Craig Evans and the move worked out as he went on to dismiss Rennie for 71, having him caught by Dion Ebrahim.

Rogers got his half-century after for 75 minutes at the crease, facing 54 deliveries and smashing ten fours. His partnership with Andre Hoffman yielded 49 runs before Hoffman, who looked on his way to a big score, was run out for 17 runs with Trevor Gripper throwing in the ball for Taibu to finish off the dismissal.

Captain Heath Streak joined in the hunt for the runs but he tended to be on the defensive most of the times, especially against young off-spinner Prosper Utseya.

After 193 minutes at the crease, dispatching 19 fours and facing 150 balls, Rogers finally reached the century mark. He did it in style, hitting two consecutive fours from left arm spinner Grant Flower.

Amos Maungwa grabbed his first wicket when he dismissed Streak, having him caught at gully by Grant Flower for 40, which came off 102 balls.

Gavin Ewing, who grabbed a double-century against Midlands last week, came in and settled immediately, dispatching two boundaries off Grant Flower. He went on to get his half-century after facing 52 balls, hitting ten fours and a six.

Utseya got his first wicket when he had Ewing given out leg before wicket for 68 runs which came off 75 balls with 13 fours and a six. Mluleki Nkala was the new man in but he was yet to open his account after facing up to four balls.

Taibu used eight bowlers but none of them managed to offer any solution with Hondo, Evans, Utseya and Maungwa grabbing one wicket apiece but their figures were not impressive. The Mashonaland fielding was also disappointing.