Logan match fizzles out to draw

LOGAN CUP REPORT: MANICALAND v MASHONALAND, Day 3

By John Ward

As expected, the Logan Cup match between Manicaland and Mashonaland fizzled out into a tame draw at Mutare Sports Club. Mashonaland gained full batting points in their total of 353 for nine wickets declared, but Manicaland safely batted out the match.

The first over on another unexpectedly sunny morning was an eventful one. Terry Denyer still had five balls of his unfinished over to complete after it had been interrupted by bad light the previous evening. His second ball, short, was pulled by overnight batsman Dirk Viljoen for four; off the fourth Viljoen (66) attempted a tentative cover drive and snicked a catch straight to Guy Whittall at first slip.

Dan Peacock, promoted in the order, soon showed he deserved it with some crisp strokes, including three fours, two through the covers and one through midwicket, off Denyer. Don Campbell looked much less comfortable and had a lucky escape when he skyed a ball just short of the deep midwicket fielder. He was finally out for 14, caught at the wicket pushing forward to Andrew Whittall.

Gus Mackay played himself in for a couple of overs before beginning a typical onslaught: 9 off an over from Lawson, 15 off Andrew Whittall, then 15 off Lawson again, including a six over and another on to the pavilion. He slowed down dramatically on approaching his fifty, content with a single off almost every ball, before finally reaching the landmark off 35 balls. By now he had lost Peacock, well caught at extra cover for 42 off Lawson. Almost immediately after reaching his fifty, though, he hit Whittall straight down the throat of Yatras at long-off to be out for 51, scored off 39 balls, with 3 sixes and 5 fours. Mashonaland had by now swept into the lead and were on 293 for eight.

Everton Matambanadzo, now at number ten, was keen to prove his improved batting ability. A thick outside edge brought him a remarkable six over backward point, followed by a sliced four in the same area. On 18 he was given out lbw to Soma, but Manicaland, realising that it had hit his bat, withdrew their appeal, in a sporting gesture all too rare in modern cricket. He celebrated with six more runs in the over before being superbly caught by Guy Whittall at extra cover for 20.

Then came a useful last-wicket stand between Anton Hoffman and Gary du Plessis, which was still unbroken at lunch when Mashonaland were 341 for nine (Hoffman 25, du Plessis 4). During the interval the Mashona players tried to pressure the Manica captain into agreeing to set them a target, but he failed to fall for it, knowing full well victory for his team was a virtual impossibility. Afterwards Hoffman opened aggressively, hitting two fours and two twos to take the total to 353 and maximum batting points before Mashonaland declared.

Manicaland went in to bat again with 75 overs left and a deficit of 66 runs, with Mashonaland the only team to have a realistic chance of victory. They had no real alternative but to play safe. Neil Ferreira scarcely offered an attacking stroke in the first hour, while Patrick Gada occasionally unleashed a powerful drive or pull when he found a suitable ball.

After drinks the batsmen gradually began to play more positively, but were to regret it. Gada (22) tried to hit Gavin Rennie out of the ground, but instead was caught by Craig Evans on the midwicket boundary, while Mark Burmester (1) drove over a ball from Viljoen and was bowled. Ferreira, however, was determined not to be moved, and Guy Whittall settled in without much trouble. At tea a draw was looming with Manicaland on 64 for two, still two runs behind (Ferreira 25, Whittall 13).

According to the regulations, a match cannot be abandoned as a draw until 3.40pm on the final day, which in this case meant jus ten minutes' play after tea. This made for some fooling around, with Evans keeping wicket and Campbell bowling with the entire fielding side in the slips. He ran out Whittall backing up, although it was hard to tell how seriously; umpire Graham Gilmour spoke to the captain, Gus Mackay, and Whittall continued his innings, but that may have been the original intention anyway. The atmosphere was frivolous, but it was hard to tell, as Mashonaland unfortunately left a bad impression behind them of some petulance on the field and far too much needling of the local batsmen. The final total was 77 for two (Ferreira 32, Whittall 17).