da betsson： After putting up a good fight for the first day and a half of theLogan Cup match at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Matabeleland thensubsided weakly to lose to Mashonaland by the huge margin of 276runs in a most unimpressive performance
John Ward26-Mar-2000LOGAN CUP REPORT: MATABELELAND v MASHONALAND, Day 3ByAfter putting up a good fight for the first day and a half of theLogan Cup match at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Matabeleland thensubsided weakly to lose to Mashonaland by the huge margin of 276runs in a most unimpressive performance. The highlight of the daywas a record partnership for any wicket in Zimbabwean crickethistory, as Craig Evans and Dirk Viljoen put on 330 together forthe third wicket. The previous best by a Zimbabwean team was300, also for the fourth wicket, by Robin Brown and Peter Allanfor Rhodesia B against Eastern Province B in 1978/79, and byopponents 317 for the second wicket between Roger Twose and AsifDin for Warwickshire against a Mashonaland XI in 1993/94.Mashonaland began the day 261 runs ahead, with seven wickets inhand, and it was clear from the start that the policy was tobuild on this lead with all possible speed. Dirk Viljoen drovethe first ball he faced on the third day through the covers forfour; Craig Evans pulled his second over the leg boundary forsix. Both batsmen hit at everything against a toothless attack,and added 100 runs to the score in just eight overs. Evans,after passing his century, began to look for his usual massivesixes, one over long-off and the rest pulled over midwicket,while Viljoen slashed and cut his way past 150.Evans took 24 in an over from Dion Ebrahim, including threesixes, then, in Ebrahim’s next over, with a declaration imminent,he tried to swing him over the midwicket boundary again, only forthe ball to keep a little low, trapping him lbw for 153. Viljoenwas not out with 173 off 175 balls, including a six and 18 fours,while Evans’ 153 came off 143 balls and included 5 sixes and 16fours.Matabeleland’s target, for what it was worth, was 363 runs; theyneeded to survive 97 overs to avoid defeat. Charles Coventry(12) played some sweet drives, but was adjudged lbw to GusMackay, following which Mark Vermeulen was caught at the wicketdown the leg side first ball. The normally aggressive DionEbrahim came in and concentrated on strict defence, but in vain;two overs alter and still without addition, he suffered an almostunplayable ball from Mackay – directed at leg stump, swinging inand pitching on middle, then cutting away to uproot off.Matabeleland, at 13 for three, were in serious trouble.Mark Abrams, as so often, flattered only to deceive, playing eachball on its merits for a while, hitting two fine fours, and thenpulling Mackay down the throat of fine leg to be out for 10; thescore 23 for four, with the defiant Siziba still there on 1.Sanyo Nyakutse played some good strokes before lunch, whenMatabeleland were 39 for four (Siziba 3, Nyakutse 14).After lunch, for a while it appeared as if Matabeleland weregoing to make a fight of it. Siziba continued to play safely,while Nyakutse went for his strokes, playing some attractivefront-foot drives and twice pulling Mackay for four in an over.Then, after a partnership of 49, the fight evaporated. Siziba,having looked so solid, drove half-heartedly at Viljoen and hit alow catch to mid-on, after scoring 9 off 82 balls. In thefollowing over, Nyakutse (41) obligingly pulled Evans straightdown the throat of Dan Peacock at deep midwicket; Rennie paddedup to a ball from Evans that broke back sharply and was given outlbw; then Engelbrecht, appearing to lose his nerve, was stumpedby Campbell standing up to Evans. All four wickets fell with thescore on 72, and Evans had bowled three successivewicket-maidens.Warren Gilmour played a couple of defiant strokes, but Jason Hitzcontributed the fifth duck of the innings, turning Evans tomidwicket where substitute fielder Brighton Watambwa took a goodlow catch. Evans’ figures were now 5-5-0-4. He finally concededruns when Gilmour slashed him over backward point for four, butthe sorry end was not long in coming, as Gilmour hit Viljoenuppishly to short extra cover for Mackay to take the catch.Matabeleland had compiled a sorry 86, the same figure as theirfirst-innings lead, and caved in on the final day with scarcely astruggle.