ZIMBABWE FIRST-CLASS CRICKET IN 1996/97

John Ward

INTERNATIONAL RECORD

     Test cricket:
v Sri Lanka (Away):      Played 2, Won 0, Lost 2, Drawn 0
v Pakistan (Away):       Played 2, Won 0, Lost 1, Drawn 1
v England (Home):        Played 2, Won 0, Lost 0, Drawn 2
     Total:              Played 6, Won 0, Lost 3, Drawn 3

     One-day international cricket:
Singer Series (Sri Lanka):    Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3
v Pakistan (Away):            Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3
v England (Home):             Played 3, Won 3, Lost 0
Triangular (South Africa):    Played 6, Won 1, Lost 4, Tied 1
v India (Home):               Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0; Abandoned 1
     Total:                   Played 16, Won 5, Lost 10, Tied 1

Since the World Cup, coach John Hampshire had not had his contract renewed and captain Andy Flower had resigned after three years of combining the role with those of wicket-keeper and leading batsman.

Alistair Campbell was appointed to lead the tour of Sri Lanka in August, just before his 24th birthday. Here Zimbabwe suffered their two most humiliating defeats in Test cricket to date but, with three key players missing, the odds were stacked against them. At the end of August Dave Houghton was still coaching Worcestershire in the English county championship, while Eddo Brandes missed the tour through continued injury and Heath Streak broke down in the First Test.

Streak's injury was to have a long-term effect. Although he returned to play against England, he was not quite the same force as before, and in the following seasons tended to be more prone to nagging injuries. He was to remain Zimbabwe's best bowler, but without becoming the same terror to the opposition that he had been before this injury.

The tour had begun with a one-day quadrangular tournament, named the Singer World Series, in which Australia and India also took part. Zimbabwe, under their new captain and without a proper coach in the absence of Houghton, were convincingly defeated by each of their opponents. They improved with the bat, in unfamiliar conditions, in each match, but even in the last game were unable to score quickly enough to test Sri Lanka.

When the Test matches came round, they were unable to handle the Sri Lankan spinners in unfamiliar conditions. They were also seriously handicapped by the wet weather, which very much restricted their practice time, and when they were able to practice found the facilities most inadequate and bearing little resemblance to match conditions. Only in their final innings of the two-match series, when it was too late, did they feel they were beginning to come to terms with the conditions. The absence of Houghton, a brilliant player of spin bowling, was a blow they could least afford.

Zimbabwe did have Paul Strang as a world-class spinner to counter Muttiah Muralitharan and Jayantha Silva, who took 27 of the 40 Zimbabwean wickets to fall, but the Sri Lankan batsmen were naturally much more experienced in playing spin under those conditions. Zimbabwe also included in their team Andrew Whittall, cousin of Guy and an off-spinner, who had just completed four years at Cambridge University. The inexperienced Whittall had no success, but was to improve noticeably in the future, especially as a one-day bowler, under tuition from John Traicos. Strang himself was chosen by Kent as their overseas player in the England county championship, and he was to enjoy a productive season for them before moving to Nottinghamshire in 1998 on the return of Carl Hooper.

So Zimbabwe lost all their matches heavily, but Campbell had done a positive job under difficult circumstances and was able to keep morale high. He was duly confirmed in the job for the rest of the season.

An improvement was evident in Pakistan, when Houghton returned to the team, although the absence of Streak and Brandes, followed by the injury to Henry Olonga, stretched Zimbabwe's pace bowling reserves to the full. In the Second Test Zimbabwe's bowling was opened by two new black pace bowlers, Everton Matambanadzo and Mpumelelo ('Pommie') Mbangwa, both very raw, but neither of whom disgraced himself.

Zimbabwe began the First Test most creditably, with both Grant Flower and Paul Strang scoring centuries. Pakistan appeared likely to fall behind on first innings when Zimbabwe's regular problem of failing to finish off the tail resurfaced. Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq added a remarkable 313 for the eighth wicket, a new Test record, and Wasim finished on an astounding 257 not out, far exceeding any of his previous batting performances in his long Test career. After this Zimbabwe had no alternative but to play for a draw, which they did successfully.

In the Second Test, played on a pitch far more favourable to bowlers, the depleted Zimbabwean team was outclassed, with Wasim taking ten wickets in the match. Zimbabwe were making a good fight of it in the second innings before some dubious umpiring decisions cut them short and ensured Pakistan had an attainable target. Zimbabwe then lost the one-day series three-nil, putting up a good fight in the first match but losing the next two heavily.

However, the tide turned with the home series against England. It was widely agreed that this tour was the lowest ebb of the England team in a series of mediocre years, the main problem being their attitude. England had never been positively inclined towards Zimbabwe's becoming a Test-playing country; they alone abstained in the crucial vote at the ICC in 1992, and they were tardy in meeting Zimbabwe on the international field, whereas they had very quickly arranged fixtures with all the previous newcomers to Test cricket. There was a suspicion that the only reason why England agreed to tour Zimbabwe even now was so as to avoid a tour to Pakistan.

Houghton, as Worcestershire coach, was able to testify that many of the England players resented coming to Zimbabwe, considering it a waste of time, and during their stay in the country it was clearly management policy for the players to remain aloof from the locals and refrain from establishing close contacts and accepting hospitality. With such a negative spirit, success should hardly have been anticipated. From his English experiences Houghton was also able to work out successful tactics against the English players, notably captain Mike Atherton who had a dismal tour with the bat.

The international fixtures began with an exciting one-day match in Bulawayo, which was dominated by bowlers, but in the end Campbell, batting with an injured hand, played a superb captain's innings to steer Zimbabwe to a narrow victory.

The First Test, which followed, was a thrilling and unique match, the first Test match in history to finish as a draw with scores level. England were left needing 205 to win in 37 overs, and finally 13 off the last over, but fell one run short, causing the frustrated England coach David Lloyd to make his famous, “We murdered them” comment at a press conference and to accuse the Zimbabweans of unsportsmanlike tactics. He was referring to the negative bowling and field placings employed by the home side in their effort to save the game.

The Second Test at Harare was spoiled by the weather, as might well be expected in December. Zimbabwe batted with much more discipline than England in difficult conditions with which one might have expected the English to be more familiar, and took a first-innings lead of 59. By the time the final day's play was washed out, Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe had batted England to a position of relative safety, although not without a great deal of luck.

The tour concluded with the two remaining one-day fixtures in Harare. The first of these was a very close affair, with Zimbabwe recovering from a disastrous start and then restraining the England batting successfully as they struggled towards a target reduced by rain. The final match was Zimbabwe all the way, as they ran up a big total and then Brandes shattered the England batting, taking a hat-trick of top-order batsmen as the tourists slumped to an overwhelming defeat. This was Zimbabwe's first one-day series victory and it was decisive. It also aroused unprecedented interest in cricket in the country, especially among many of the black population with little previous knowledge of the game.

Zimbabwe thus went to South Africa for the first time to take part in a triangular one-day series, also including India, with much greater confidence. They were defeated three times by the host country, but in two of these defeats they had South Africa in considerable trouble, and only the latter's powerful lower order pulled them out of trouble.

They had some exciting matches against India. In their first encounter they allowed India to recover from the dead to snatch a tie; in the second match the roles were reversed, thanks to fine batting by Craig Evans and Paul Strang. Then, in the third match when victory was required to qualify for the final against South Africa, a brilliant century from Sachin Tendulkar snatched the match from Zimbabwe's grasp after they had been in a strong position.

On their way home after losing the final to South Africa, India were scheduled to play two matches in Zimbabwe. They were a tired team and were completely routed in the first match in Bulawayo. With the Harare match washed out by rain, Zimbabwe had achieved another series victory.

Finally Zimbabwe were invited to Sharjah, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka the other opponents in another one-day competition. In conditions akin to the Indian subcontinent, Zimbabwe lost the first two matches heavily, but came back to defeat Sri Lanka in the third. In the final match a batting failure when chasing a smallish target lost them the match against Pakistan after they had put themselves into a strong position. Batting was their main problem in this tournament, in conditions which did not suit them.

Although still no further Test victory was achieved, this season was acclaimed as Zimbabwe's most successful to date, in view of the one-day victories over England and India, a very good performance in South Africa, and a victory in Sharjah for the first time. While in South Africa, as manager Andy Pycroft noted, the team developed its own brand of cricket. Dynamic in the field, they communicated their enjoyment of the game more effectively than the clinical South Africans, and always attempted to fight their way out of difficulty, a fresh approach which brought them many supporters.

Apart from Campbell's captaincy, Houghton's innovative coaching deserved much credit. He took on the role of mentor to many of the younger players, who could not speak highly enough of him. The enterprising selectors, headed by John Traicos, brought several new players out of nowhere, and some promising batsmen added to Zimbabwe's depth.

On the playing side Campbell, frequently criticised in the past for throwing his wicket away, thrived on the responsibilities of captaincy and showed a new maturity with the bat, especially under pressure. Grant Flower, hitherto a dour opener, widened his range of strokes and gained in confidence.

Brandes, now less distracted by his chicken farm, was able to devote more time to the game and forced his way back into the team. Streak, though, was never fully fit after returning injured from the tour of Sri Lanka, and there was never the opportunity to see both him and Brandes at their best in action together. Campbell also acknowledged the value of Brandes' quiet encouragement of the youngsters.

Paul Strang continued the improvement he had shown at the World Cup, developing as a leg-spinner worthy of comparison with Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Mushtaq Ahmed. He also fielded brilliantly, generally at backward point, scored a Test century against Wasim and Waqar, and improvised with success in the one-day game.

On the domestic scene, the season opened with a brief tour by Western Province, who played a first-class match against Mashonaland. The result was an evenly-balanced draw.

At the end of the season Worcestershire toured, and their one first-class match was a close encounter with a Matabeleland Invitation XI. Heath Streak, perhaps feeling he had a point to prove, ripped out the first three Worcestershire wickets with only a single on the board, but weak batting led to the team's eventual defeat.

The Logan Cup this season was played between two teams only, Mashonaland and Matabeleland, and as could be predicted was very one-sided. In the three contests between the teams Mashonaland won two convincing victories, while the other, on a lifeless pitch at Alexandra Sports Club, was drawn. In this match Grant Flower scored an unbeaten 243, the highest in the competition since it became first-class in 1993/94.

Another weakness in this format was that several Mashonaland players of international experience were unable to find places in their first team, so strong was the Harare contingent, and so were denied any first-class cricket during the season.

Dave Houghton captained Mashonaland in the final two matches after Campbell was injured, while John Rennie took over the captaincy of Matabeleland, only to give it up at the end of the season for business reasons.

The Zimbabwe Board XI which played in the UCBSA Bowl competition was placed in Division 2, which was not accorded first-class status. They finished second in that division. Registering two victories and one defeat. The outstanding individual feat was a superb innings of 266 by captain Andy Waller against newcomers Namibia. Waller, who enjoyed his best season, was also to make a belated Test debut against England, at the age of 37, only to retire at the end of the season. He had been used more regularly in one-day cricket, when farming duties permitted, often opening the batting.

Less first-class cricket in the country meant less significant figures in the averages. Grant Flower, with 477 at an average of 53.00, was the leading run-scorer, followed by Campbell with 370 at 61.66. Also over 300 were Guy Whittall (316 at 31.60), Dave Houghton (311 at 44.42) and Mark Dekker (309 at 51.50).

Only five bowlers took even ten wickets during the first-class season, with Paul Strang way ahead of all rivals with 36 at 25.16. This was more than twice as many as any other bowler, Heath Streak being next in aggregate with 17 at 27.94. The averages were actually topped by Sussex pace bowler James Kirtley, who played for Mashonaland. He played a major role in Mashonaland's victory over the English tourists and also took a hat-trick in the final Logan Cup match. Bryan Strang, who had done so well in the two previous seasons, lost form and took only 12 wickets; during the following English season he regained his swing after adjusting his action on the advice of Worcestershire's Phil Newport.

TOUR TO SRI LANKA

Singer World Series

At Colombo (Premadasa); 26 August. AUSTRALIA 263/7 (M J Slater 50, R T Ponting 53, S R Waugh 82; G J Whittall 3/53). ZIMBABWE 138 (A H Omarshah 41; M E Waugh 3/24). Australia won by 125 runs.

At Colombo (SSC); 1 September. ZIMBABWE 226 (A Flower 78, C B Wishart 53; A Kumble 4/33). INDIA 229/3 (A D Jadeja 68, S R Tendulkar 40, S C Ganguly 36, M Azharuddin 40*, V G Kambli 29*). India won by seven wickets.

At Colombo (SSC); 3 September. ZIMBABWE 227/5 (A D R Campbell 54, C N Evans 96*). SRI LANKA 208/4 (P A de Silva 127*, H P Tillakaratne 34*). Sri Lanka won by six wickets.

(1ST TEST) At Colombo (Premadasa); 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 September. SRI LANKA 349 (A P Gurusinha 52, P A de Silva 35, A Ranatunga 75, R S Kaluwitharana 71, H D P K Dharmasena 42, W P U J C Vaas 34; H H Streak 3/54, P A Strang 5/106). ZIMBABWE 145 (G J Whittall 39, C B Wishart 51; W P U J C Vaas 4/73, K J Silva 3/10) and 127 (K J Silva 4/25, M Muralitharan 5/33). Sri Lanka won by an innings and 77 runs.

(2ND TEST) At Colombo (SSC); 18, 19, 20, 21 September. ZIMBABWE 141 (G W Flower 52, A D R Campbell 36; M Muralitharan 4/40, K J Silva 4/16) and 235 (A H Omarshah 62, A Flower 31, P A Strang 50; M Muralitharan 3/94). SRI LANKA 350/8 dec (S T Jayasuriya 41, A P Gurusinha 88, H P Tillakaratne 126*; B C Strang 3/63, P A Strang 4/66) and 30/0. Sri Lanka won by ten wickets.

TOUR TO PAKISTAN

At Sahiwal; 12, 13, 14 October. ZIMBABWEANS 307/7 dec (D L Houghton 105, A Flower 100*; Shahid Nazir 3/42) and 203/8 dec (G W Flower 75, C B Wishart 68*; Mohammad Hussain 4/68, Shahid Afridi 3/78). PCB COMBINED XI 236/8 dec (Shadab Kabir 46, Azam Khan 70, Hasan Raza 58) and 238/9 (Sohail Jaffer 36, Mohammad Hussain 58*; A R Whittall 5/97, G W Flower 3/84). Match drawn.

(1ST TEST) At Sheikhapura; 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 October. ZIMBABWE 375 (G W Flower 110, D L Houghton 43, P A Strang 106*, B C Strang 42; Saqlain Mushtaq 3/127, Shahid Nazir 5/53) and 241/7 (G W Flower 46, D L Houghton 65, G J Whittall 32; Saqlain Mushtaq 4/75). PAKISTAN 553 (Saeed Anwar 51, Aamer Sohail 46, Saleem Malik 52, Wasim Akram 257*, Saqlain Mushtaq 79; P A Strang 5/212). Match drawn.

(2ND TEST) At Faisalabad; 24, 25, 26 October. ZIMBABWE 133 (A Flower 61; Wasim Akram 6/48) and 200 (D L Houghton 73, A D R Campbell 52; Wasim Akram 4/58, Waqar Younis 4/54). PAKISTAN 267 (Saeed Anwar 81, Wasim Akram 35, Moin Khan 58; B C Strang 3/53) and 69/0 (Saeed Anwar 50*). Pakistan won by ten wickets.

(1ST ODI) At Quetta; 30 October. ZIMBABWE 237/9 (G W Flower 91, A Flower 82). PAKISTAN 239/7 (Aamer Sohail 55, Saleem Malik 72*; A R Whittall 3/36). Pakistan won by three wickets.

(2ND ODI) At Lahore; 1 November. ZIMBABWE 195 (A Flower 51; Saqlain Mushtaq 3/46). PAKISTAN 196/1 (Saeed Anwar 84*, Shahid Afridi 66, Ijaz Ahmed 32*). Pakistan won by nine wickets.

(3RD ODI) At Peshawar; 3 November. PAKISTAN 264/9 (Ijaz Ahmed 117, Azam Khan 72, Moin Khan 34; E Z Matambanadzo 4/32). ZIMBABWE 147 (G W Flower 77; Saqlain Mushtaq 4/28). Pakistan won by 77 runs (revised target).

ENGLAND TOUR

(not f-c) At Harare South Country Club; 30 November. ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 198/9 (45.3 overs) (G J Whittall 58, G J Rennie 32; A D Mullally 3/35, R C Irani 3/46) v ENGLAND XI. No result -- rain.

(Not f-c) At Harare Sports Club; 1 December. ENGLAND XI 211/5 (A J Stewart 105, N Hussain 50; E A Brandes 3/42). ZCU PRESIDENT'S XI 215/5 (D N Erasmus 67, A D R Campbell 45, G J Whittall 36*). ZCU President's XI won by five wickets.

At Harare Sports Club; 3, 4, 5 December. ENGLAND XI 197 (G P Thorpe 35, R D B Croft 80*; R J Kirtley 5/53) and 180 (N Hussain 39, J P Crawley 74; G B Brent 4/22, P A Strang 4/56). MASHONALAND 280 (A D R Campbell 55, D L Houghton 110, C B Wishart 45; P C R Tufnell 5/78, R D B Croft 4/65) and 98/3 (A D R Campbell 53*, D L Houghton 34). Mashonaland won by seven wickets.

(Not f-c) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 8 December. ENGLAND XI 210/9 (N V Knight 58, J P Crawley 30; A R Whittall 3/35, G J Whittall 4/45). MATABELELAND 151 (G J Whittall 35, W R James 33, M D Abrams 33; R D B Croft 3/42). England XI won by 59 runs.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 10, 11, 12, 13 December. ENGLAND XI 334 (N V Knight 114, A J Stewart 39, N Hussain 38, J P Crawley 63; H H Streak 3/65) and 230/5 dec (M A Atherton 55, A J Stewart 43, N Hussain 40, G P Thorpe 65; D Vaghmaria 3/58). MATABELELAND 188 (W R James 62; D Gough 6/64) and 261 (M H Dekker 104, H H Streak 67, J A Rennie 30; D Gough 5/75, R D B Croft 4/65). England XI won by 115 runs.

(1ST ODI) At Queens Sports Club; 15 December. ENGLAND 152 (N Hussain 49*; J A Rennie 3/27, H H Streak 3/30). ZIMBABWE 153/8 (A C Waller 48, A D R Campbell 32*). Zimbabwe won by two wickets.

(1ST TEST) At Queens Sports Club; 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 December. ZIMBABWE 376 (G W Flower 43, A D R Campbell 84, D L Houghton 34, A Flower 112, P A Strang 38; C E W Silverwood 3/63, R D B Croft 3/77) and 234 (D L Houghton 37, A C Waller 50, G J Whittall 56; P C R Tufnell 4/61). ENGLAND 406 (N V Knight 56, A J Stewart 48, N Hussain 113, J P Crawley 112; P A Strang 5/123, H K Olonga 3/90) and 204/6 (N V Knight 96, A J Stewart 73). Match drawn with scores level.

(2ND TEST) At Harare Sports Club; 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 December. ENGLAND 156 (J P Crawley 47*; H H Streak 4/43, G J Whittall 4/18) and 195/3 (N V Knight 30, A J Stewart 101*, G P Thorpe 50*). ZIMBABWE 215 (G W Flower 73, P A Strang 47*; D Gough 4/40, R D B Croft 3/29). Match drawn.

(2ND ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 1 January. ZIMBABWE 200 (A Flower 63, C N Evans 32, H H Streak 43*; D Gough 4/43). ENGLAND 179/7 (A J Stewart 41, J P Crawley 73; P A Strang 3/24). Zimbabwe won by 6 runs (revised target).

(3RD ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 3 January. ZIMBABWE 249/7 (G W Flower 62, A D R Campbell 80*, A Flower 35). ENGLAND 118 (R D B Croft 39*; E A Brandes 5/28 including hat-trick). Zimbabwe won by 131 runs.

STANDARD BANK SERIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

At Centurion; 25 January. ZIMBABWE 211 (G W Flower 90, P A Strang 39; A A Donald 4/37). SOUTH AFRICA 212/5 (D J Cullinan 73, W J Cronje 87*). South Africa won by five wickets.

At Paarl; 27 January. ZIMBABWE 236/8 (P A Strang 47, A D R Campbell 61, C N Evans 40; B K V Prasad 3/49). INDIA 236 (S C Ganguly 38, A D Jadeja 32, S S Karim 38, R R Singh 48; E A Brandes 5/41). Match tied.

At Cape Town; 29 January. ZIMBABWE 226/6 (A C Waller 52, A D R Campbell 30, D L Houghton 57*). SOUTH AFRICA 229/5 (G Kirsten 55, D J Cullinan 33, J N Rhodes 36*). South Africa won by five wickets.

At Johannesburg; 31 January. ZIMBABWE 256/8 (G W Flower 62, D L Houghton 57, G J Whittall 41, P A Strang 40*; A A Donald 4/46). SOUTH AFRICA 259/6 (D J Cullinan 30, J N Rhodes 34, W J Cronje 70*, S M Pollock 75; E A Brandes 3/45). South Africa won by four wickets.

At Centurion; 7 February. INDIA 216 (S C Ganguly 31, S R Tendulkar 41, M Azharuddin 44, A D Jadeja 36). ZIMBABWE 171/7 (C N Evans 43, P A Strang 31*). Zimbabwe won by three wickets (revised target).

At Benoni; 9 February. ZIMBABWE 240/8 (G W Flower 40, A D R Campbell 86, A Flower 35; J Srinath 3/35, S B Joshi 3/40). INDIA 241/4 (S R Tendulkar 104, A D Jadeja 56*). India won by six wickets. INDIA TOUR

At Queens Sports Club; 15 February. INDIA 168 (V Rathore 34, R R Singh 45; H H Streak 5/32). ZIMBABWE 139/2 (G W Flower 61*). Zimbabwe won by eight wickets.

At Harare Sports Club; 17 February. Match abandoned due to a waterlogged ground.

TOUR TO SHARJAH

At Sharjah; 3 April. ZIMBABWE 187/9 (C B Wishart 32, A Flower 38, P A Strang 38; W P U J C Vaas 3/25). SRI LANKA 188/3 (S T Jayasuriya 56, M S Atapattu 52*, P A de silva 60). Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.

At Sharjah; 6 April. PAKISTAN 187 (Saleem Malik 33, Inzamam-ul-Haq 46; H H Streak 3/37). ZIMBABWE 94. Pakistan won by 93 runs.

At Sharjah; 8 April. ZIMBABWE 203 (A Flower 42, A D R Campbell 30, G J Whittall 44; R S Kalpage 3/38). SRI LANKA 153 (R S Mahanama 42, P A de Silva 32, H P Tillakaratne 36). Zimbabwe won by 50 runs.

At Sharjah; 9 April. PAKISTAN 151/9 (Moin Khan 61; H H Streak 4/18). ZIMBABWE 119 (Waqar Younis 3/14, Mushtaq Ahmed 4/27). Pakistan won by 32 runs.

WESTERN PROVINCE TOUR (first-class match)

At Alexandra Sports Club; 26, 27, 28 September. WESTERN PROVINCE 303 (M C de Villiers 84, S G Koenig 67, A C Dawson 30*; P A Strang 4/111) and 237/9 dec (S G Koenig 49, J B Commins 104, D B Rundle 41; P A Strang 4/110, G J Rennie 3/15). MASHONALAND 276/8 dec (B C Strang 68, C B Wishart 53, A D R Campbell 32; A Martyn 4/46) and 74/4 (C B Wishart 30*). Match drawn.

WORCESTERSHIRE TOUR

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 28, 29, 30 March. WORCESTERSHIRE 145 (S J Rhodes 46; H H Streak 4/20, H K Olonga 3/38) and 263/8 dec (G A Hick 32, V S Solanki 61, D A Leatherdale 44). MATABELELAND INVITATION XI 168/9 dec (T R Gripper 45) and 222 (D J R Campbell 46, G J Whittall 40, M D Abrams 45; G A Hick 4/59). Worcestershire won by 18 runs.

LOGAN CUP

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 4, 5, 6 October. MATABELELAND 118 (M H Dekker 32; B C Strang 5/50, P A Strang 5/45) and 279 (M H Dekker 90, M D Abrams 34, M Ranchod 56*, H K Olonga 33; E Z Matambanadzo 3/76, P A Strang 5/103). MASHONALAND 314 (D P Viljoen 47, A D R Campbell 76, D L Houghton 67, A Flower 61; H K Olonga 3/70, D Vaghmaria 3/44) and 85/2 (G W Flower 44*). Mashonaland won by eight wickets.

At Alexandra Sports Club, Harare; 15, 16, 17 November. MASHONALAND 503/4 dec (G W Flower 243*, S V Carlisle 96, A C Waller 104). MATABELELAND 448 (G J Whittall 159, M H Dekker 55, H H Streak 47, W R James 52, M Ranchod 33, J A Rennie 57*; E A Brandes 4/107). Match drawn.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 22, 23, 24 November. MASHONALAND 477/6 dec (S V Carlisle 131, C B Wishart 110, A Flwoer 73*, P A Strang 103*; A R Whittall 3/119). MATABELELAND 69/4 dec and 195 (G M Fellows 50, W R James 74; R J Kirtley 5/56). Mashonaland won by 213 runs.

TEST MATCH RECORDS DURING 1996/97

BATTING AND FIELDING
                    M   I  NO   Runs   HS     Av.   100  50   Ct/St
P A Strang          6  11   4   301   106*   43.00    1   1    2
D L Houghton        4   7   0   282    73    40.28    -   2    4
G W Flower          6  11   0   379   110    34.45    1   2    3
+A H Omarshah       1   2   0    63    62    31.50    -   1    -
A D R Campbell      6  11   0   297    84    27.00    -   2    7
A Flower            6  11   0   281   112    25.54    1   1   11/2
*+A C Waller        2   3   0    69    50    23.00    -   1    1
H H Streak          3   5   3    37    19    18.50    -   -    1
G J Whittall        6  11   0   160    56    14.54    -   1    1
B C Strang          4   7   2    68    42    12.60    -   -    2
C B Wishart         4   8   0    98    51    12.25    -   1    2
+M H Dekker         5   9   0   100    20    11.11    -   -    2
E A Brandes         1   1   0     9     9     9.00    -   -    -
*E Z Matambanadzo   1   2   1     7     7     7.00    -   -    -
*A R Whittall       3   6   1    27    12     5.40    -   -    2
*C N Evans          1   2   0    10     9     5.00    -   -    1
H K Olonga          5   8   1    14     7     2.00    -   -    1
S V Carlisle        1   2   0     4     4     2.00    -   -    2
*M Mbangwa          1   2   0     2     2     1.00    -   -    -


BOWLING
                    Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts   Av.     Best  5wI  10wM
H H Streak          109.1   26   294   11    26.72    4/43    -   -
P A Strang          287.2   61   730   25    29.20    5/106   3   -
G J Whittall        102.5   27   244    8    30.50    4/18    -   -
B C Strang           69.5   19   224    6    37.33    3/53    -   -
M Mbangwa            24      4    81    2    40.50    2/67    -   -
E Z Matambanadzo     16      0    89    2    44.50    2/62    -   -
H K Olonga          106.4   18   375    8    46.87    3/90    -   -
G W Flower           40     10   108    1   108.00    1/4     -   -
A R Whittall         89.2   17   261    2   130.50    2/146   -   -
E A Brandes          37     12    80    0      --      --     -   -
C N Evans             6      0    27    0      --      --     -   -


CONSOLIDATED ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL RECORDS DURING 1996/97
     (* = ODI debuts; + = final matches of career)

                    M    I  NO   Runs   HS     Av.   100  50   Ct/St
G W Flower         20   20   1   651    91    34.26    -   6    8
C N Evans          11   10   2   268    96*   33.75    -   1    2
A Flower           20   19   1   540    82    30.00    -   4   18/4
A D R Campbell     20   19   2   478    86    28.11    -   4   10
+A H Omarshah       2    2   0    47    41    23.50    -   -    -
P A Strang         20   19   3   382    47    23.87    -   -    9
*D P Viljoen        3    3   0    64    25    21.33    -   -    1
D L Houghton       13   12   1   206    57*   18.72    -   2    5
+A C Waller         9    9   0   153    52    17.00    -   1    2
*C B Wishart       10   10   0   160    53    16.00    -   1    3
G J Whittall       19   19   3   251    44    15.68    -   -    6
H H Streak         17   13   3   141    43*   14.10    -   -    5
+M H Dekker         4    4   1    40    18    13.33    -   -    -
M Mbangwa           1    1   0    11    11    11.00    -   -    -
E A Brandes        15   10   5    50    17    10.00    -   -    1
J A Rennie         12    5   1    34    27     8.50    -   -    3
B C Strang          2    2   1     7     6     7.00    -   -    2
S V Carlisle        3    3   0    13     6     4.33    -   -    2
*E Z Matambanadzo   6    5   3     8     5*    4.00    -   -    1
*G J Rennie         2    2   0     6     6     3.00    -   -    2
*A R Whittall       8    7   2    12     4*    2.40    -   -    2
*G B Brent          1    1   0     1     1     1.00    -   -    -
+W R James          1    -   -    --    --      --     -   -    -/-
H K Olonga          1    -   -    --    --      --     -   -    1


BOWLING
                    Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts   Av.     Best  4wI
E Z Matambanadzo     44.3    1   193   10    19.30    4/32    1
E A Brandes         125.5   15   544   27    20.14    5/28    2
H K Olonga            6      0    47    2    23.50    2/47    -
H H Streak          155     11   647   26    24.88    5/32    2
J A Rennie           85      6   379   14    27.07    3/27    -
G J Whittall        138.1    1   637   18    35.38    3/53    -
A D R Campbell        7      0    36    1    36.00    1/8     -
C N Evans            39      1   166    4    41.50    1/15    -
A R Whittall         61      2   261    6    43.50    3/36    -
P A Strang          162.5    7   707   13    54.38    3/24    -
G W Flower           35.5    0   159    2    79.50    1/15    -
B C Strang           11.5    1    73    0      --      --     -
M H Dekker            7      0    49    0      --      --     -
M Mbangwa             5.4    0    47    0      --      --     -
G B Brent             5      0    29    0      --      --     -
A H Omarshah          2      0    18    0      --      --     -