Murphy helps Mashonaland reach 326 in Kwekwe

Champions Mashonaland, struggling shortly after lunch on the first day of their match against Midlands at Kwekwe Sports Club, recovered to total 326. A career-best innings by Brian Murphy, assisted by Elton Chigumbura, led the fightback, despite six wickets from Sean Ervine. At the close Midlands were struggling at 38 for two.

Midlands made one change from the team that beat Manicaland, bringing in the unpredictable David Mutendera in place of Anthony Ireland, who was not given a bat or bowl in Mutare. Mashonaland were without Dion Ebrahim and Grant Flower, both resting minor injuries before their tour of England; however, Brian Murphy was back after injury and the promising 17-year-old batsman Brendan Taylor came into the side.

Midlands lost their sixth consecutive toss in Logan Cup cricket, and Mashonaland decided to bat on a very flat-looking pitch. Taylor was making his debut for the full Mashonaland side, although he did play for Mashonaland A at the age of barely 16 last season, and earlier this season scored a double-century opening for Mashonaland B. He again showed his rare confidence, taking runs quite fluently off the Test bowlers Travis Friend and Ervine, although getting away with a couple of dodgy hooks.

He soon lost his opening partner Trevor Gripper (3), who drove at an overpitched ball from Ervine, who plucked a sharp chance off his bootlaces. Gripper, appalled by his own aberration, could hardly tear himself away from a pitch that promised hundreds of runs. His replacement Stuart Carlisle also could have fallen cheaply; trying to shoulder arms, he touched a ball to the keeper, who fumbled the catch and allowed the batsmen to take two runs.

There was a bit of early movement, but once again the Midlands pacemen were not accurate enough to put consistent pressure on the batsmen, with Friend unable to break his habit of pitching too short. Taylor after his bright start became bogged down and was eventually caught down the leg side off Ervine for 22. Mashonaland were 50 for two.

Captain Tatenda Taibu came in next, at number four due to the shortage of available batsmen. He was content to play quietly as Stuart Carlisle took charge of the bowling, selecting his shots well, with one or two impressive straight hits, and including two of his huge trademark sixes over midwicket. He fell for 60, though, caught at bat-pad off Raymond Price; 116 for three.

Taibu never really took charge of the bowling, though he did keep the score moving before being out for 38, playing the ball on to his stumps as he tried to sweep Price. Craig Evans had only 7 to his credit when given out lbw padding up to a ball from Ervine that moved back off the pitch, the umpire taking an age to give him out. Mashonaland were looking none too happy at 155 for five.

Then came the fine fighting partnership between Chigumbura and Murphy that took the initiative. Chigumbura began slowly, but played with fine shot selection, choosing the right ball to hit, and drove Price for a superb six over long-off to bring up his fifty. Murphy looked more aggressive from the start, but wasn't always able to find the gaps - unless he hit the ball to David Mutendera, who had a nightmare in the field. Captain Dirk Viljoen didn't seem to fancy him as a bowler either, understandably given his disastrous season with the ball, but he did not get a chance to show if he was coming right in that department. Again left-arm spinner Ian Coulson was totally ignored with the ball, suggesting vast differences in opinion and policy between the Midlands selectors and their captain.

Chigumbura (67) was eventually out rather controversially after a partnership of 108. There was an appeal for a catch at bat-pad on the off side off Viljoen's bowling, but umpire Justice Tapfumaneyi, although certain the bat had made contact on the ball, was uncertain as to whether it had carried. Before he had chance to call in the square leg umpire, who was initially unable to hear what the question was, the fielders made a rather unsightly protest, and eventually the umpires confirmed the dismissal.

Prosper Utseya (7) lasted until tea but was out to the first ball after the interval, Terry Duffin's third catch of the innings at bat-pad and his best, as he dived far to his right to hold it. Douglas Hondo (also 7) held an end up until he chased a ball from Ervine, with the second new ball, that was well down the leg side, to be caught by the keeper.

Murphy, looking towards his maiden first-class century, seemed to lose confidence and slowed down while partnered by Amos Maungwa. He was dropped by Viljoen off a skyer when 76, but only added one run before driving a catch to the same fielder. Finally Waddington Mwayenga, after hitting Ervine for six, skyed a catch to extra cover, scoring 12, with Amos Maungwa not out 9.

The total was 326, and Ervine had six wickets for 82 to reward him for his marathon bowling spells that kept him going for 28.3 overs. He kept the ball up to the bat and sometimes moved it in the air and off the pitch; occasionally he lacked accuracy but never persistence.

Vusi Sibanda again failed to reproduce in the book the talent that won him a trip to England. With only 4 to his credit, he drove unwisely at Waddington Mwayenga and was easily caught at mid-off off a leading edge. Hondo struck another blow before the close, bowling Duffin for 18 with a full-length delivery, and there was almost a third wicket as Douglas Marillier was dropped at slip off Gripper. Marillier (13) survived until the close, in company with Craig Wishart (1).