Date-stamped : 04 Dec96 - 14:13 Day 1 Report- Electronic Telegraph England bow to Sussex novice Martin Johnson in Harare ONE OR TWO English cricket supporters have already trickled out here, but for those who are still at home, do not forget to pack a couple of essential items. The malaria tablets and suncream are doubtless on the travel agent's check-list, but they may just have forgotten to warn you to include an umbrella and a month's supply of anti-depressant tablets. The first thing to know about this tour is that it has been planned by the Test and County Cricket Board to coincide with Zimbabwe's rainy season, which may either be a case of bad planning, or fiendish cunning. It is just possible that someone at Lord's had a sneaking feeling that - even against Zimbabwe - England might just be thankful for a torrential downpour or two. It has rained on almost every day so far, and yesterday another electrical storm washed out the afternoon session of England's opening first-class match against Mashonaland. However, while there is plenty of voltage in the skies over Harare Sports Club, England currently cannot produce enough to power a 20-watt bulb. A first day total of 175 for nine did represent an improvement of sorts from 25 for four and 94 for seven, but all Robert Croft's unbeaten 66 really achieved was to put the rest of the batting into grim perspective. England optimists, if such a species has not long since joined the dodo and the dinosaur in the Natural History Museum, might point out that Mashonaland are Zimbabwe's reigning domestic champions. So they are, but as the opposition comprises of Matebeleland and, er, that's it, this hardly qualifies as unlucky England running into the cream of Zimbabwean cricket before they have had time to get acclimatised. If the toss was a bit of a charade - England batting by mutual consent - their hosts were less amenable when it came to offering them any easy pickings. What made it slightly less distressing was the fact that the major new-ball damage was done by one of England's own, the 21-year-old Sussex pace bowler James Kirtley, who cemented his place in the county side when Ed Giddins had his collar felt by the TCCB's forensic department. Sussex can consider themselves fortunate that Kirtley has not joined the mass player stampede through the Hove exit gate. Kirtley has only 12 first-class games under his belt and, if the new ball moved around a little bit, there was nothing else for him from a slow pitch. He would have had five wickets but for two dropped catches, and the only reason to reserve judgment is the fact that he was bowling against England. Let us see what he is like against proper opposition. Atherton lasted one ball longer - three - than he did in Sunday's game, which, as we suspected, meant that Alec Stewart's new position at No 3 is no guarantee of a leisurely change from his wicketkeeping pads into his batting ones. Jack Russell, incidentally, permitted himself a wry remark to the press tent as he returned from pouring the mid-afternoon drinks with the scoreboard reading 88 for six. The gist was that at least the waiter was in good form. Stewart and Nasser Hussain both managed to get themselves bowled (off inside edges) not offering a shot, while England's new super-fit, squat-thrust, beep test, you name it regime appears highly likely to produce outstanding results in the batsmen running themselves out department. Nick Knight, who has passed every fitness test with an honours degree, is so proficient at 22-yard sprint training that he decided to put it into serious practice yesterday. Unfortunately, the training routine has one flaw when it comes to the real thing - namely, you don't have to look to see where the ball is. Graham Thorpe let out a horrified "No" when he saw his partner returning for a third run with the ball in the fielder's hands, and as England do not yet appear to have honed a routine for an emergency stop in mid-pitch and running back again, Knight was despatched by several yards. Thorpe was caught at cover off the exotically named Darlington Matambandzo, whose twin brother, Everton, is also one of a number of promising black players starting to emerge. Croft is so far having an excellent tour and looks as though he is enjoying it, which might not be a bad thought for one or two of the others. He would have been out for 49, and England all out for 145, but for a dropped catch, and figured in a bizarre end to the day when he hit consecutive balls for four and six, and then accepted an offer for bad light. Day 2 report- Zimbabwe Herald Spinners hit back after Houghton ton Jahoor Omar in the Zimbabwe Herald DAVE HOUGHTON scored an imperious century but England's spinners brought their team right back into contention when they engineered a major Mashonaland collapse near the end of the second day of the fourPday cricket international at Harare Sports Club yesterday. After the 39PyearPold former Zimbabwean skipper stroked his way to his 17th first class ton, England's Robert Croft and Phil Tufnell came into their own as Mashonaland lost their last six wicket for only 17 runs in nine overs. At the close of an eventful day, elongated slightly after the loss of an entire session on the opening day due to rain, Mashonaland were 279P9 and held a first innings lead of 82. Croft, who remained unbeaten with a top score of 80 when England's first innings finally folded for 197 after 49 minutes in the morning with Sussex bowler James Kirtley capturing 5P53 off 25.1 overs, had amazing figures of 6P3P5P4 in his last spell. The 26PyearPold Glamorgan offPspinner had an endPofPday analysis of 4P65 off 21 overs while left armPspinner Tufnell finished with 4P77 from 24. And it was the wicket of Houghton, caught and bowled by Tufnell in the 72nd over, which sparked the slide as the two England spinners managed to extricate turn on a wearing wicket to scuttle the middle and lower order. Houghton, at the top of his form with the bat at the moment, played almost every shot in the book, including a reverse sweep for four off Tufnell, in a domineering innings of 110 off 141 balls in just under three hours, with 14 fours and two sixes, including one swept six off the same bowler to bring up century. He had also featured in the best partnership of the innings, 116 for the fourth wicket with Craig Wishart whose 45 was a mixture of the good and the bad. there was also and excellent half century from Mashonaland and Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell who was unhappy when given out caught at first bounded off wicketkeeper Alec Stewart. Grant Flower too looked unhappy when adjudged leg before to the same bowler for 28 after posting a 58Prun stand for the third wicket with Campbell. Source :: The Zimbabwe Herald Day 2 report- Electronic Telegraph Croft turns to his main concern as England recover Martin Johnson in Harare THE daily thunderstorm failed to materialised in Harare yesterday, although England's search for help from above did arrive in the form of the spiritual advisor appointed in Ted Dexter's day as chairman, Reverend Andrew Wingfield-Digby. When he flew in, it was anyone's guess as to whether Wingfield-Digby, a handy medium-pacer in his day, would be asked to deliver a laying on of hands, or invited to open the bowling, and in terms of the size of the miracle required, someone appreciably higher up than a Reverend appeared to be required. England had posted a first innings total of 197 which would have been even more inadequate without a last wicket partnership of 52 between Robert Croft and Philip Tufnell, and when Mashonaland were 258 for three half an hour after tea yesterday, the tourists seemed certain to concede a first innings lead of embarrassing proportions. However, Tufnell and Croft were brought here to take wickets rather than score runs, and by sharing six of them in the final nine overs of the day (Croft's final spell was 6-3-5-4) the home side's advantage was eventually restricted to an acceptable 82. The ball has turned, appreciably at times, and maybe the worm has too. Even so, there was not much encouragement from the way two of Zimbabwe's major Test batsmen, Dave Houghton and Alistair Campbell, flogged England's attack around in a fourth wicket partnership of 116, and, in as much as it was possible in 90-degree heat, Houghton's masterful 110 was compiled without breaking sweat. While those two were at the crease, England looked like an attack wearily going through the motions, none more so than Andrew Caddick. He is currently running in without getting anywhere, like a man who has got his braces caught in the dressing room door, and by the time he reaches the stumps, appears almost too exhausted to let the ball go. Apart from managing to bowl the hitherto out of touch Campbell into decent form (the Zimbabwean captain added 55 yesterday to his 45 in Sunday's one-day game) England did not know where to bowl at Houghton, who, at 39, is the oldest man currently playing Test cricket and averages 48 in 18 Tests. Even if Graeme Hick had not defected, Houghton would still be rated the best batsman in Zimbabwe. He played any number of outstanding strokes, including a six over square leg off Croft to reach his century, but two of them were in a different class. Croft has been reverse-swept for four before, but probably not by someone charging down the pitch at the same time, and a perfectly good ball from Alan Mullally was smacked straight back over his head for six. Houghton is not quite a member of the Phylosan club, but much more of this and England will be sending for Graham Gooch. Houghton is considering retirement at the end of the Test series here, not because of old age, but because of the family strain of attempting to play, and hold down two coaching jobs - one with Zimbabwe and the other with Worcestershire. Darren Gough was the pick of the three seamers, although there are increasing worries about the state of his feet. A pair of new boots has left one of his toenails in danger of coming off, and he was forced to leave the field for a time in mid-afternoon for treatment to a couple of blisters. The one-way nature of this match, however, altered from the moment Houghton was out, driving a return catch to Croft, who had earlier been left unbeaten on 80 when Tufnell was caught behind to give the young Sussex bowler, James Kirtley, his fifth wicket of the innings. From then on, Croft and Tufnell ran through the lower order batting with a succession of bat-pad catches, and as Houghton gave a 10 minute interview on his innings: "all I try to do is hit the ball where there isn't a fielder," he watched four wickets go down. "The ball is definitely turning," he said, "and I wouldn't want us to be chasing more than 400 in the fourth innings." Houghton, like Campbell, is also of the opinion that England will get much better as the tour goes on (which wouldn't be difficult) and Campbell said that he thought England were feeling the strain of a side not used to winning, but who had arrived here expected to. Campbell was also involved in one of two highly dubious decisions which went England's way in the first half of the day, given out caught at slip by Nasser Hussain sweeping off Tufnell. His bat was so far from the ball Campbell felt obliged to ask the umpire what he had given him out for. Grant Flower was also aggrieved to be adjudged lbw to Tufnell when he was yards down the pitch, and the only conceivable explanation was that the umpire was bored with watching him nudge and nick his way to 28 in two hours. Day 3 report - Zimbabwe Herald MASHONALAND PULL OFF HISTORIC WIN By Jahoor Omar HISTORY was in the making at Harare Sports Club yesterday when Mashonaland soundly whipped England by seven wickets with a day to spare to become the first Zimbabwean cricket side to beat them in a firstPclass international. Set a modest 98 to win after England had another disastrous day with the bat, bowled out for a paltry 180 in their second innings, Mashonaland reached their target without too much fuss shortly after 5 pm. Zimbabwe and Mashonaland captain Alistair Campbell led them to the promised land with his second half century of the match, deftly cutting spinner Robert Croft backward of square for the winning runs of the 26th over. His eye was catching innings of 53 not out off only 72 balls in 82 minutes with six spanking fours, many of them hooked or cut powerfully or driven sedately. Campbell, whose last three innings against England have announced a welcome return to form after indifferent form in Tests over the last two years, also added 86 for the third wicket in 96 minutes with Dave Houghton, who followed up his century in the first innings with 34. The two came together at 11P2 after Allan Mullally briefly threatened to spoil the party with the two quick wickets of openers Stuart Carlisle, clean bowled for 3 and Grant Flower, expertly picked up at short let by John Crawley for 2. yet the day had begun well for England as Mashonaland only mustered on more to their overnight total before being bowled out for 280 in their first innings in 2.4 overs for a first innings lead of 83. Left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell, who claimed the last wicket of James Kirtley, finished with 5-78 off 25 overs. But just as they did the first time around, England lost their first four wickets in the first time hour to a mixture of fine bowling and poor strokes, limping to 29-4 in the 17th over with their top order decimated. The early incision was made by Kirtley, England's first innings destroyer, who took the wickets of Nick Knight and Alec Stewart in three balls with the score on four in the third over. Gary Brent then removed Mike Atherton and Graeme Thrope and despite a disciplined 76-run partnership for the fifth wicket between John Crawley, who hit five fours and a six in his 74 and Nasser Hussain (39), England lost their last six wickets for 75. Brent and Paul Strang finished with four wickets apiece, the former boasting his best first-class figures of 4-22 off 10 overs and the latter 4-56 off 23.1. Kirtley claimed the two other wickets to fall and finished with match figures of 7-91. J Source :: The Zimbabwe Herald Day 3 report England gloom deepens in Mashonaland humiliation By Martin Johnson in Harare MICHAEL Atherton's plucky tourists did their best but, in the end, there was no holding the might of Mashonaland. After all, they were up against a side containing no fewer than four full-time professionals, and with a bit more luck - such as a ferocious thunderstorm - they might even have managed to take the opposition into a fourth day. Maybe, on their next visit to Zimbabwe, the Test and County Cricket Board will take a more realistic view of the itinerary, and insist on a match against Mashonaland A team. Yesterday's seven-wicket defeat again highlights the pressing need for an Academy. Never mind that the Zimbabwean Academy is a rickety old outhouse containing a few typists, they have still got one. Now for the good news. The consignment of Tetley beer has arrived, and so have the advance crew from Sky TV, who yesterday presented England coach David Lloyd with an armful of what were described as "motivational videos". Apparently, these are a compilation of England's cricketers doing great things, such as a bowler taking a wicket, but given the nature of the subject matter, it was something of a surprise that Sky had managed to put together as many as 10 of these videos. On the other hand, as it's Sky, they are probably 90 per cent adverts. The good news does not stop there. Two other important arrivals are imminent, Ian Botham, and the Barmy Army. When Botham joins the Sky team next week he will also be launching his role as unpaid England motivator, and the prospect of Botham joining in the nightly hotel room word games is remote. What this team need, quite seriously, is less insularity, and a few sociable nights out at the local Plough and Anchor. As for the Barmies, even they might have been considering cancelling their visit on doom and gloom grounds, although, happily, their arrival is now guaranteed with the news that one of the local cricket clubs have challenged them to a beer-drinking contest. For once, news of a famous English victory may not be long delayed. When England went in to bat again yesterday, 83 behind on the first innings, even the scoreboard operator was taking the mickey, and for the first half-hour he stubbornly insisted that England were one for nine. In the event, it was an outrageous punt, as England promptly slumped to 29 for four. Alec Stewart, precisely as he did in the first innings, found that the No 3 position equates to less than three overs to wait until he gets in, and after Nick Knight had inside-edged to the wicketkeeper off James Kirtley, Stewart's off stump was removed - second ball - by a perfect outswinger. Kirtley, the young Sussex tyro, then stood aside for Gary Brent, who fits in his cricket around a full-time job managing his father's tobacco farm. Atherton, playing a limp push away from his body, was caught behind, as was Graham Thorpe, to a diving catch. Atherton, in addition to his miserable form, is being plagued by a recurrence of back problems. In 1991 he had an operation which required the insertion of a metal screw, and yesterday he had X-rays to determine whether, in the words of the team physio, he had "a screw loose". He hadn't, but much more of this and he will have, a bit higher up. Atherton has been moody and irritable on this tour, but this may largely be down to his health. He has to take so many painkillers that he does not so much walk out to bat as rattle, and a week-long bout of diarrhoea meant that the pills were not inside him long enough to have any effect. Combine this with captaining England, and it is scarcely surprising he is rarely spotted dancing down the streets of Harare. On the other hand, there is some evidence that he no longer enjoys the game as he once did. Tests turn him on, but for matches such as this he makes even David Gower look keen. If the captain can't get properly motivated, results like this should not come as a huge surprise. At 29 for four, England were in danger of losing by an innings, and though Nasser Hussein and John Crawley averted that possibility with a stand of 76, a three-wicket burst by Paul Strang more or less ruled out any chance of them saving the game. Strang had Hussein lbw sweeping, bowled Robert Croft off his boot, and spun one past Darren Gough's half-hearted drive to clip the off stump. Crawley battled well before running himself out, and hit two massive sixes in his 74. When he drilled a catch to mid-off just before tea, however, the game was up. England's 179 all out left Mashonaland needing only 98 to win, and though Alan Mullally reduced them to 11 for two, their two leading batsmen, Dave Houghton and Alistair Campbell, saw them home in 25.3 overs. Atherton said afterwards that England were "still a bit rusty", that his team remained confident, and that they would get it right for the Tests. He is probably right, as he is when he says that England "needs some more cricket". The full four days against Matabeleland next week would be a start. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)