Matabeleland lead by eight runs against Manicaland after day two

After two days the match between Manicaland and Matabeleland at Mutare Sports Club is beautifully balanced, with Matabeleland eight runs ahead with nine second-innings wickets in hand.

Manicaland took a lead of 149 on first innings, but this was almost entirely due to the fine batting of Guy Croxford and Tino Mawoyo. Both deserved and were unfortunate to miss their maiden first-class centuries, while the other batsmen for the most part played one-day cricket and gave their wickets away to soft dismissals. Apart from the persevering Mluleki Nkala, the Matabeleland bowlers did not trouble the batsmen.

Their sixth-wicket partnership of 144, begun the previous evening, lasted almost until the lunch interval. Croxford put aside his usual aggressive game and batted with great patience, recording his seventh and highest fifty in 12 first-class innings this season. Mawoyo, an Academy student this year, was more aggressive and it was a major disappointment when he fell two runs short of his century. Croxford was let down by the lower order, with three wickets falling with the total on 301, and was finally left stranded on 96.

In the second innings Matabeleland had finally come to grips with the fact that this was after all a good batting pitch and scored virtually at will, helped by some poor fielding. Charles Coventry batted well, despite occasional rash strokes, and was the only wicket to fall that evening. Mark Vermeulen batted with great responsibility and saw Matabeleland into the lead and through to the close, in partnership with Gavin Rennie.