The Castle Lager National First League resumed on Sunday after the end-of-year break. All of the matches were played in Harare, which has experienced dry warm weather so far this year. Surprisingly, most matches were low-scoring affairs with only one match producing an innings of over 200 runs.

Old Georgians v Universals

In one of the closest matches of the season so far, Craig Wishart stroked 79 not out as Old Georgians squeaked home to victory against Universals by four wickets with just one ball to spare. Visiting captain Everton Matambanadzo won the toss and elected to bat first in warm sunny conditions. Alester Maragwede and Darlington Matambanadzo made a useful start for Universals with a half-century opening partnership against an attack significantly weakened by the absence of regular captain and all-rounder Gus Mackay, currently on duty with the Zimbabwe team in Australia and New Zealand. Stand-in captain Craig Evans brought himself on to bowl and was almost immediately successful, removing Maragwede for 33, star batsman Dion Ebrahim for 11, and veteran stalwart Ali Shah for a single. From then on it was hard work for the Universals batsmen, but a breezy half-century from Hamid Adam boosted the run rate sufficiently for the visitors to reach the 200 mark, the final total of 206/8 in 50 overs helped significantly by 29 wides and no-balls sent down by the Alex bowlers.

Needing just over four runs per over to win, openers Lance Malloch-Brown and Andre Neethling found runs hard to come by, especially against the in-form David Mutendera who conceded just 22 runs in his 10 overs. After the dismissal of Neethling for 12, Craig Wishart came to the crease in desperate need of runs after an extended run of poor form which has resulted in his axing from the national squad. Wishart timed his innings perfectly, scoring the winning run off the penultimate ball of the match.

Scores

Universals 206/8 in 50 overs (H. Adam 63, C. Evans 4/43)
Old Georgians 207/6 in 49.5 overs (C. Wishart 79*)

Old Georgians won by four wickets.

Old Hararians v Mac Club

At Old Hararians, the home side overcame a spirited Mac Club by three wickets with more than 10 overs to spare in a low-scoring match. Batting first, the Bulawayo side could only manage 132/6 in their allotted 45 overs, with only Clement Mahachi putting up any meaningful resistance with an undefeated 45. Paul Strang, whose last competitive match had been the first test against India in Delhi back in November last year, made a welcome return from injury with an impressive spell of 9-3-7-0, and Gary Brent impressed with 2/27 off his nine overs.

The victory target of 133 did not appear to pose a stiff challenge for the home side, but some very disciplined bowling made life difficult for the batsmen and wickets fell at regular intervals. OH were never really in trouble, however, and achieved victory with more than 80 balls to spare, albeit with only three wickets in hand. To their credit, the Mac bowlers conceded just one wide and one no ball, compared to the 16 wides and one no-ball conceded by their opposition.

Scores

Mac Club 132/6 in 45 overs (C Mahachi 45*)
Old Hararians 134/7 in 31.2 overs ( R. Kaschula 46)

Old Hararians won by 3 wickets.

Harare Sports Club v Queens Sports Club

High-riding Queens Sports Club travelled to Harare to take on Harare Sports Club in an important fixture for both sides. A win for Queens following their recent win over Alex would have virtually ensured them the title, whilst Sports Club needed a win to stay in contention for eventual honours.

Batting first, the home side were immediately in trouble with former Test opener Trevor Gripper bowled by John Rennie for a duck. Brad Taylor and Paul Brous consolidated with a 50-run partnership, but the innings lost impetus as wickets fell. Eddo Brandes struck an undefeated 44 to add a small measure of respectability to the total which ended on 167/9 after the allotted 50 overs.

Queens would have backed themselves to make the 168 needed for victory, but the home side bowling stuck to their guns to dismiss Queens for a mere 155 with only wicketkeeper Joubert and captain Rennie playing any innings of significance. Off-spinner Gavin Johnson-Robertson was again miserly, conceding 27 runs off his 10 overs, while Anthony Brookes returned from injury to claim 2/17 off 7 overs.

Scores

HSC 167/9 in 50 overs (E Brandes 44*, P Engelbrecht 4/29)
Queens 155 all out in 48.3 overs (B Joubert 42)

HSC won by 12 runs.

Alexandra v Mutare

Mutare Sports Club travelled to Harare to take on Alexandra in another key fixture. Following the defeat at the hands of Queens in their previous match, Alex needed a home win against the talented young side from the Eastern Highlands. Mutare batted first and were immediately in trouble when star opener Neil Ferreira was adjudged leg before to Gary Du Plessis for a single. Acadamy players Kingsley Went and Richard Sims tried to consolidate, and captain Mark Burmester contributed 21, but despite these efforts Mutare were dismissed for 158 in the 43rd over. Craig Anticevich returned the best figures of 7-1-21-3.

After a shaky start in which they lost three early wickets, Andy Blignaut, Jason Vaughan-Davies and Andrew Gilmour all batted well to see the home side through to a comfortable six-wicket victory with plenty of overs to spare.

Scores

Mutare 158 all out in 44.2 overs (K Went 41, C Anticevich 3/21)
Alex 159/4 in 34.5 overs

Alex won by 6 wickets

Winstonians v Kwekwe

League newcomers Kwekwe Sports Club travelled to Harare for their match against the struggling Winstonians, who again were missing their batting trio of Hamilton Masakadza, Stewart Matsikenyere and the wonderfully talented Tatenda Taibu who were all doing duty for the Zimbabwe Under-19 side in Bulawayo. Played at Country Club in Highlands, the match produced another low-scoring affair as Winstonians were skittled out for 151. Six of the top seven Winstonian batsmen made double figures, but none were able to convert the starts into good scores. J Lewis took 4/33 for the visitors. Promising fast bowler Douglas Hondo bowled with aggression, but spoiled his effort with seven no-balls and four wides. Spinner Raymond Price caused problems for all the batsmen and took 3/33 off his 10 overs.

Facing a modest total for victory, Kwekwe were rocked by some genuinely quick bowling from the fast bowling trio of Mwembwe, Manyande and Maungwa, the latter grabbing three early wickets and striking Brendon Vaughan-Davies on the forearm, resulting in the batsman retiring hurt with a broken arm. With the visitors struggling at what was effectively 60/6, it was the experience of Dave Houghton and the boldness of Douglas Hondo who managed to steer Kwekwe to a fairly comfortable victory.

Scores

Winstonians 151 all out in 48.4 overs (S. Maungwa 36, J Lewis 4/33)
Kwekwe 152/5 (D.Hondo 46*, D. Houghton 35*, A. Maungwa 3/31)

Kwekwe won by 5 wickets.

Next Weekend's Fixtures

Home team first :

Old Hararians v Winstonians
Mac Club v Alexandra
Mutare v Harare Sports Club
Queens v Universals
Kwekwe v Old Georgians

© Cricinfo