Vigne Cup report

OGs and Alex win again

Old Georgians and defending Vigne Cup champions Alexandra maintained their winning streaks with convincing victories at the weekend over Universals and Old Hararians respectively. 10 points separate the two teams at the top of the league table with three rounds remaining in what is rapidly developing into a two-horse race for eventual honours.

After a season characterized by rainy weekdays and sunny weekends, it was inevitable that the weather would get its timing right at some stage, and a heavy shower on Saturday caused the cancellation of the match between Harare Sports Club and Winstonians due to a waterlogged field. With both sides on 20 points and desperately needing the 10 points on offer for a win, the cancellation of the match was a mutual disappointment, each side being awarded 5 points.

For OH and Universals, the defeats effectively ended their title aspirations with OGs now 40 points clear of both these sides.

Andy Blignaut stole the limelight for Alex in a 98-run thrashing of OH at Alexandra Sports Club. Unable to bowl due to persistent injury niggles and cast in the role of specialist batsman, the talented former international thrashed the bowling to post his second century of the season and help Alex reach a formidable 283 all out. Batting conditions were far from ideal with a heavy outfield and a slow pitch. With the ball not coming on to the bat, runs were difficult to come by, except for Blignaut, whose powerful, clean hitting was the difference between the two sides. An indication of the significance of Blignaut's contribution was the fact that the next highest score for Alex was extras on 38. Gary Brent returned the best figures for OH with 4/37, all of these wickets coming at the end as he mopped up the tail. Richard Sims also bowled well, taking 2/36 off 10 overs, including the wicket of Blignaut.

The OH reply started disastrously as Jason Young and Campbell MacMillan, who is improving with every match, decimated the top order. The OH middle order put up some resistance, but they were always behind the required run rate and were eventually dismissed for 185 in the 42nd over. It has to be mentioned that OH were severely depleted by the absence of Trevor Penney (coaching the Zimbabwe Board XI), Paul Strang, Bryan Strang and Dirk Viljoen (in India with the national team) as well as Raymond Price (Board XI)

At Universals, the home side was thrashed in an even more one-sided match. Universals were dismissed for a paltry 127 all out in just 35 overs, with only captain Everton Matambanadzo, better known as a fast bowler, making any significant contribution with his 45 not out.

Although the conditions were not ideal for batting, Andre Neethling and Ryan King demonstrated that runs could be scored as they both made half-centuries and batted the visitors to a nine-wicket victory with 10 overs to spare. Although all of the sides have been depleted in recent weeks, due mostly to representative selections, Universals have perhaps been harder hit than other sides, and on Sunday were missing bowlers Douglas Hondo and David Mutendera, and batsmen Dion Ebrahim and Alistair Campbell. To add to their frustrations, Hitesh Hira is still injured and Everton Matambanadzo was unable to bowl, also due to injury.

The Vigne Cup takes a break for nine weeks until 4 February. Next weekend sees the resumption of the Castle Lager National League. Matches scheduled are :

Old Georgians vs Old Hararians Universals vs Alexandra Kwekwe vs HSC Mutare vs Mac Club (at HSC - neutral venue) Winstonians vs Queens