Zimbabwe National League first round

There were a couple of upsets in the First League in the opening round of the 2001/2 National League on October 21, with last season's two top teams suffering humiliating defeats at the hands of newcomers.

Champions Old Hararians surprisingly travelled with only nine players to Kwekwe and they were all out after 23.3 overs with the scorecard reading 107/8. The only meaningful batting came from Nyasha Chari who made 23. The hosts used only four bowlers Travis Friend, Campbell McMillan, John Vaughan-Davies and Doug Marillier who each took two wickets.

Kwekwe reached 109/3 in 26.1 overs with Dirk Viljoen unbeaten on 38. Ironically Viljoen turns out for OH in the Mashonaland Vigne Cup. Opener Marillier was the second-best batsman with 28 runs.

The match between Queens, last season's runners-up, and Mutare was played at a neutral venue, Old Hararians Sports Club, with the latter posting a convincing 97-run victory in a 45-over match. Mutare opened the batting and compiled 258 runs for the loss of seven wickets off their 45 overs.

Former national team players Alistair Campbell and Guy Whittall, who were recently dropped from the national team, led by example with match-winning fifties. Opener Campbell top-scored with 79 while Whittall weighed in with 67. Mluleki Nkala was the pick of the Queens bowlers with three wickets for 42 off nine overs.

In reply Queens were dismissed for 161 in 38.3 overs. Richard Sims finished with three wickets for 19 off nine overs while Ian Coulson took three for 39 off seven overs.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club, visitors Old Winstonians beat the hosts by seven wickets. They fielded national team pace bowler Henry Olonga who has moved from Bulawayo.

BAC were dismissed for 109 in 26.1 overs. Old Winstonians captain Rangarirai Manyande led the attack with five wickets for 42 off 10 overs. Choki Panyangara finished with three for 13 off 6.1 overs while Olonga took two for 29 off seven overs.

Old Winstonians reached 110 for the loss of four wickets in 27 overs. Stuart Matsikenyeri, who is set to leave for Australia soon, made 43.

At Universals the hosts continued their poor run which has seen them lose all three games in the Vigne Cup so far with a six-run defeat to Harare Sports Club in a closely fought battle. The two teams met a week earlier in the Vigne Cup and Harare Sports Club won by nine wickets with 61 balls to spare. However, this encounter was a close call with Universals being dismissed seven runs short of their victory target with four balls remaining.

Harare Sports Club made 261/9 in their allotted 50 overs with opener Mark Vermeulen the top scorer with 75 runs. Fellow-opener Trevor Gripper and Donald Campbell added 32 runs each. Ali Shah took three wickets for 35 off 10 overs while Brian Murphy took three for 41 off 10 overs.

Universals were all out for 255 after 49.2 overs with Shah the leading scorer on 50. Gripper took three for 59 off 10 overs.

The other match was at Alexandra Sports Club where the hosts beat Old Georgians by seven runs in yet another close encounter. Alex made 234 for nine wickets in 50 overs with Ross Liddell making the round's best score of 81. Old Georgians could only reach 227 for nine off their allotted 50 overs with Craig Evans making 61 and Grant Flower 54.