Zimbabwe National League - semi final report

Alexandra vs Harare Sports Club

Alex hosted Harare Sports in the first national league semi-final. Batting first on a wicket that offered some assistance to the bowlers, HSC got off to a good start with some solid batting from Davies and the in-form Ferreira. All of the top-order batsmen made a start, but none were able to push on to a significant score. The injured Andy Blignaut, who has been working hard on regaining full fitness, was introduced into the attack by skipper Gavin Rennie, and he made an immediate impact, having Bennett brilliantly stumped by Eian Marillier down the leg side. Marillier had an outstanding game behind the stumps with five dismissals in all.

Blignaut wrapped up the Sports Club tail to return the impressive figures of 5/14 off just four overs. The HSC total of 150 all out in 44 overs was disappointing, especially given the return of Stuart Carlisle from the national one-day squad.

Alex started their reply in disastrous fashion, losing both openers with only 10 runs on the board. Rennie and Blignaut shored up the middle order, and it was left to Blignaut and Jason Vaughn-Davies to see Alex through to a comfortable six wicket win with 10 overs to spare. Of the HSC bowlers, Dan Peacock impressed with figures of 10-5-19-1 and he will surely be missed by Sports Club when he transfers to Universals.

Last season Alex lost in the semi finals of both the national league and the Vigne Cup, so are especially pleased to have made at least one final this season. Murray Goodwin should be back for Alex when they meet the powerful Old Hararians in the final in two weeks' time.

Alexandra won by 6 wickets

Harare Sports Club  Innings
KJ Davies             run out                                  27
NR Ferreira           c E Marillier      b Du Plessis          13
TR Gripper            c E Marillier      b Rennie              16
SV Carlisle           c E Marillier      b Duers               21
KB Bennett            st E Marillier     b Blignaut            12
DJ Peacock            c Young            b Blignaut            17
*+DJR Campbell        c D Marillier      b Blignaut            20
AP Hoffman            c Du Plessis       b Rennie               5
GD Ferreira           c E Marillier      b Blignaut             5
G Haakonsen           not out                                   0
BT Watambwa                              b Blignaut             0
Extras                                                         14
Total                 (all out, 44 overs)                     150

Bowling O M R W Du Plessis 7 2 28 1 Bezuidenhout 10 0 33 0 Young 5 0 22 0 Duers 8 3 20 1 Rennie 10 0 32 2 Blignaut 4 0 14 5

Alexandra Innings

DA Marillier c Campbell b Watambwa 0 J Wells c Peacock b Haakenson 7 John Vaughan-Davies c Campbell b Hoffman 15 *G A Rennie lbw b Peacock 39 AM Blignaut not out 36 Jason Vaughan-Davies not out 24 +E R Marillier JA Young D Bezuidenhout G du Plessis KG Duers Extras 30 Total (4 wickets, 39.4 overs) 151

Bowling O M R W Watambwa 9 0 29 1 Haakenson 8 0 30 1 Davies 3 0 16 0 Hoffman 4 0 21 1 Peacock 10 5 19 1 Ferreira 4 0 14 0 Gripper 1.4 0 14 0

Old Hararians vs Universals

In a much anticipated clash, Universals travelled to OH to contest the other semi-final of the national league. OH have been unbeaten in the league this year, but both teams boasted impressive teams with national players available for the match. For Universals, Alistair Campbell and Everton Matambanadzo returned, whilst Gary Brent was included in the OH side.

Universals won the toss and opted to bat on a good track. They made a solid start with openers Darlington Matambanadzo and Brad Robinson. The OH bowling was exceptionally tight and Bryan Strang and Eddo Brandes made life very difficult for the batsmen. Again, all the top batsmen made a start, but failed to carry on and make the big score. As a result the Universals run rate was always under pressure, and in the end had to settle for 182/6 off their allotted 50 overs. Brandes again proved his current form, conceded just 14 runs in his 7 overs. The OH bowlers conceded only five extras, all of them bowled by Dirk Viljoen.

The total was never likely to be enough to keep out OH, despite the strong Universals bowling attack. Everton Matambanadzo, captain for the day, bowled with pace and aggression, but lacked control and conceded 7 no balls and 9 wides in his 9 overs. David Mutendera, keen to improve on last week's effort and still fresh from coaching by legend Dennis Lillee, found form and bagged the three early wickets of Brandes, Brent and Lamb to have OH floundering on 40/3. But even Mutendera lacked control at times, and conceded six wides. Dirk Viljoen celebrated his recall to the national squad for the home series against England with the only 50 of the weekend, but was dismissed with the total on 112/5 and Universals still with an outside chance of victory. Captain Trevor Penney and Bryan Strang had other ideas, and some big hitting from the latter put the result beyond doubt, and OH won comfortably in the end by five wickets with 16.4 overs to spare.

For Universals, they will be concerned at the large number of extras conceded - 14 no balls and 19 wides - compared to their counterparts, especially when defending a modest total. The extras total of 43 was the second highest score for OH.

OH are now clear favourites to win the league when they take on Alexandra in the final on 27th February.

Old Hararian won by 5 wickets

Universals Innings
DR Matambanadzo       c Butterworth      b Brent               19
+BI Robinson          c Parker           b Rawnsley            33
DD Ebrahim            c Parker           b Rawnsley            23
*ADR Campbell         lbw              b Strang              23
TN Madondo            st Parker          b Price               35
AH Shah               c Lamb             b Price               17
HJ Hira               not out                                  13
DT Mutendera          not out                                  12
H Adam
EZ Matambanadzo
DT Hondo
Extras                                                          7
Total                 (6 wickets, 50 overs)                   182

Bowling O M R W Strang 8 2 26 1 Brandes 7 2 14 0 Brent 10 0 45 1 Rawnsley 10 1 25 2 Price 10 0 44 2 Viljoen 5 0 26 0

Old Hararian innings EA Brandes c E Matambanadzo b Mutendera 5 RW Price lbw b Hondo 29 GB Brent c Campbell b Mutendera 3 G Lamb lbw b Mutendera 2 DP Viljoen c Robinson b Hondo 50 *TL Penney not out 20 BC Strang not out 36 R Butterworth +G Parker M J Rawnsley D Stephens Extras 43 Total (5 wickets, 33.2 overs) 188

Bowling O M R W E Matambanadzo 9 1 54 0 Mutendera 8 0 37 3 Hondo 5 0 21 2 Hira 6 0 37 0 Campbell 3 0 16 0 Shah 2 0 7 0 Ebrahim 0.2 0 6 0