Gauteng 'B' have the better of Day 2 in Kwekwe

Gauteng, playing above themselves, kept ahead of the Zimbabwe Board XI in their match at Kwekwe Sports Club, finishing the second day 202 runs ahead with six second-innings wickets in hand.

The day began with calls for the record books as night-watchman Raymond Price, who has built up a reputation for himself as the dourest of batsmen in this job or opening the innings, as he sometimes does, slog-swept Siraaj Conrad powerfully over wide long-on for six. Such euphoria could not last, though, and in the next over he holed out to long leg off Gerhard de Bruin for 11.

Richie Sims, in superb form in club cricket, scored only a single before being caught at short leg off Conrad, and at 69 for three the Board XI were looking none too healthy. However, such a challenge often brings out the best in Campbell. But with Guy Whittall joining him, there was always the chance of some Keystone Cops-type running between wickets.

Campbell looked in good touch - not that that necessarily means anything - but fine Gauteng fielding made him work hard for his runs. Whittall scored only 5 before Walter Masimola picked up a superb low return catch; 90 for four, and once again a Zimbabwean team was proving guilty of gross underperformance.

Campbell and Dirk Viljoen immediately tried unsuccessfully to run each other out, but then decided they might as well put up with each other's company and build a useful partnership. Campbell began to open out more after lunch, although not always in complete security. The bowlers tended to bowl a little too short and wide, and he thrived on the pull and the cut, although one pull should have been caught overhead at midwicket. His century came with a scampered single off 152 balls, but there was still much work to be done.

Almost immediately he lost Viljoen after a stand of 103, the latter popping a gentle low return catch to Jon Buxton-Forman. Barney Rogers (7) also fell to a return catch, patting an easy one back to Buxton-Forman; 211 for six.

With Mluleki Nkala at the crease and starting uncertainly, Gauteng played the defensive game, spreading the field far and wide to keep him away from the strike. Nkala (14) was just beginning to look more confident when he holed out on the midwicket boundary off Conrad, and then finally Campbell (125) became the fourth caught-and-bowled victim as he drove back to Conrad. At 240 for eight, the Zimbabweans remained well behind.

Alester Maregwede survived an easy chance to square leg, the fielder obviously dazzled by the sun, but Campbell Macmillan got stuck into Conrad, hitting him for a high four and two sixes to cow-shot corner before getting a leading edge into the covers for 16 off six balls.

After tea Zimbabwe's innings lasted just three balls without addition to the total of 260, with Brighton Watambwa bowled by Shane Burger third ball. Alester Maregwede was unbeaten with five. The Board XI, packed with Test players, thus conceded a first-innings lead of 95 to their opponents who have only three players with first-class experience.

Matthew Street, after a long stint keeping wicket, scored only 9 second time round before edging Price to Campbell at slip. Price was soon bowling with four close fielders besides the keeper in a ring within five metres on the off side and Gauteng, seeking to build on their lead quickly, did not find it easy. Certain Zimbabweans, in the absence of a match referee, appeared likely to get away with some very obnoxious appealing.

William Motaung (16) did not appear happy to be given out caught at the wicket off Price, but Gauteng were helped in their pursuit of runs by too many poor balls from the Zimbabwean spinners. Later they tightened up after Sandile Masingemi and Buxton-Forman took advantage, and eventually Masingemi, becoming tied down, was adjudged lbw for 33 trying to pull a ball from Price. In the next over, Buxton-Forman was another player fortune that there was no match referee to notice his reaction to being adjudged caught at the wicket for 24. Gauteng B were 87 for four.

A miserable over rate by both sides meant that at the normal closing time nine overs remained unbowled and play continued for another 30 minutes until the spinners had completed the quota. Vaughan van Jaarsveld and Mathew Harris survived until the close, both on 8, when the total was 107 for four.