Results of Mashonaland 50-over matches played on Sunday 31 October.

At Alexandra Sports Club. HARARE SPORTS CLUB 202/9 (50 overs) (K J Davies 40, J Oldrieve 48, A P Hoffman 35, B W S Pswarayi 21*; K G Duers 2/23, C M Anticevich 2/36). ALEXANDRA 206/3 (46.3 overs) (A G R Gilmour 54, C M Gurr 32, P Duffy 38, J Vaughan-Davies 55*; M A Vermeulen 2/43). Alexandra won by seven wickets.

Harare Sports Club put up a rather patchy batting display and failed to take control of a fairly weak Alexandra attack which included the 39-year-old former national player Kevin Duers, called up in view of the shortage of experienced players. Alex began with a good opening partnership between Andrew Gilmour and Craig Gurr, while Justin Vaughan-Davies finished off the match with a quick fifty. Both Gilmour and Vaughan-Davies hit sixes to bring up their fifties, although they were probably unaware of it at the time owing to the lack of detail shown on the scoreboard.

At Old Georgians Sports Club. OLD GEORGIANS 248/5 (50 overs) (D Oberholzer 61, A Neethling 26, C N Evans 80, A J Erasmus 21*; A Maungwa 2/43). WINSTONIANS 146 (40.1 overs) (A Maregwede 31, G Makoni 27, R Chibisa 24; D J Rowett 2/23, S Wright 3/23, T Friend 2/22). Old Georgians won by 102 runs.

Winstonians were handicapped by the loss of Andy Flower in Bloemfontein, although the home side was also short of several regulars. While Douglas Oberholzer played a more sedate role, Craig Evans blasted the Winstonians bowling for 80, including 6 sixes and 5 fours. The inexperienced Winstonians batsman were unable to challenge the Old Georgians total, although Alester Maregwede batted impressively for his 31.

At Universals Sports Club. OLD HARARIANS 234/8 (50 overs) (P A Strang 85, C Delport 62, G Parker 39; H J Hira 2/31, D Hondo 2/21). UNIVERSALS 204/9 (50 overs) (K Adam 47, H J Hira 46, A H Omarshah 30, B I Robinson 26; M J Rawnsley 2/32, P A Strang 2/37, P K Gada 3/16). Old Hararians won by 30 runs.

Both teams were missing seven regular players for this match, mainly due to tours to South Africa. Paul Strang, who is supposed to be resting a damaged tendon in his arm, played a vital role in this match, although his 85 was admittedly off a mainly second-string attack. Universals found nobody able to match his innings, and he took two wickets bowling in an unusual style, at medium-paced with a longer run-up, but still with the leg-spinner's action. Old Hararians also included Worcestershire left-arm spinner Matthew Rawnsley in their team.