Alexandra Sports Club scored a massive 405/3 in 50 overs against the hapless MacDonald Club in Bulawayo, and then dismissed the home side for 212 to record a comprehensive victory by 193 runs. The opening pair of Roger Liddell and Brian Bath started the onslaught with a century partnership at a run a ball before Liddell was bowled by Steven Brown for 72. Andy Blignaut joined Bath at the wicket and proceeded to smash the Mac Club bowlers around (and over) the park before he holed out to Mark Vermeulen for 77. Bath reached his first century of the season before being bowled for 124. John Vaughan-Davies and Andrew Gilmour continued the slaughter to push Alex to the highest score in the first league for several years. The Mac Club cause was not helped by 43 extras.

Mac Club were never likely to come close to reaching the 406 runs required for victory, and when Campbell Macmillan grabbed two quick wickets with the new ball, the game was over as a contest. With the exception of Mark Vermeulen, the Mac Club batting folded meekly against Macmillan, Blignaut and Gary Du Plessis, and were bundled out for 212 in the 41st over. Vermeulen scored more than half his side's runs with a defiant 125 but received no support as Alex romped to a 193-run victory.

The win virtually ensures a semi final berth for Alex who face Winstonians in the final round robin league fixture next weekend.

Scores

Alexandra 405/3 in 50 overs (B Bath 124, A Blignaut 77, R Liddell 72, A Gilmour 43*, J Vaughan-Davies 46*)
Mac Club 212 all out in 40.4 overs (M Vermeulen 125, C Macmillan 4/55)

Alex won by 193 runs

Universals v Queens

Universals scored a convincing 89-run win against the powerful Queens side to boost their chances of reaching the semi-final stage of the league this season. The enigmatic Queens side, who have defeated much stronger teams this season, inexplicably crashed to 110 all out against a moderate bowling attack to record their second consecutive defeat following their loss to Harare Sports Club by 12 runs last weekend.

Earlier, Universals managed 199/7 in 45 overs, the match being shortened due to need for Queens to travel from Bulawayo. After the early loss of the out-of-form Alester Maragwede, the Universals middle order all contributed in dry warm conditions. Perhaps the most notable contribution came from Hitesh Hira who scored 41 in his first appearance after a long injury layoff. Ali Shah, Dion Ebrahim and Darlington Matambanadzo all batted well, and a quick-fire 29 not out from Everton Matambanadzo in the final overs ensured a reasonably respectable total for the home side. Mpumelo "Pommie" Mbangwa was the most successful Queens bowler with 3/44 from his 9 overs, while Ian Engelbrecht troubled the batsmen, returning 2/24.

Needing to score exactly 200 runs at 4.5 to the over, Queens never looked like winning as their innings stuttered and stumbled, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Pommie Mbangwa surprisingly opened the batting and scored just two runs before offering a catch off David Mutendera. Mutendera and Everton Matambanadzo bowled with discipline, restricting Queens to 35/2 after 11 overs. But it was Darlington Matambanadzo who inflicted the most damage, claiming 4/23 while Hamid Adam wrapped up the tail. The most impressive aspect of the Universals performance was the fact that their bowlers did not concede a single wide or no-ball in the 36 overs bowled, an unheard-of feat in Zimbabwean cricket at any level these days.

Queens have a tough final assignment against Old Georgians in their third consecutive away match next weekend, whilst Universals will be looking for a win against Mutare.

Scores

Universals 199/7 in 45 overs (H. Hira 41, A. Shah 30, D. Ebrahim 32, M. Mbangwa 3/44)
Queens 110 all out in 36.1 overs (P Engelbrecht 41*; D Matambanadzo 4/23)

Universals won by 39 runs.

Kwekwe v Old Georgians

Kwekwe Sports Club travelled to Harare to take on Old Georgians in a fixture that generated much interest. The Dave Houghton-inspired Kwekwe side have provided tough opposition for the more established sides in their first season in the first league, and Sunday was no exception as they defeated their more fancied opposition in Harare. The Midlands side, boosted by the presence of Academy players Ray Price, John Vaughan-Davies and Douglas Hondo and skippered by the inimitable Dave Houghton, made the hosts pay dearly for some indisciplined batting and bowling.

Winning the toss and batting first, Old Georgians were soon on the back foot, as first Lance Malloch-Brown and then Craig Wishart were stumped off the bowling of Ray Price. Houghton, who is developing into a useful all-rounder, combined with Price and Douglas Hondo to tie the Old Georgians batsmen down and restrict them to a mediocre 200/7 in 50 overs.

Kwekwe did not start their run-chase convincingly, and struggled to build meaningful partnerships. Steve Wright took wickets at vital stages, taking 4/19 off 10 overs in all, including the prize scalp of Houghton. Craig Wishart redeemed himself slightly with a tight spell of 10-0-34-1. Old Georgians were still in the game until Douglas Hondo decided to show off his batting skills, smiting a rapid 47 not out to seal victory for the visitors with 17 balls to spare. The victory would have been much tougher had Old Georgians not conceded a frustrating 32 wides and no balls, Andre Neethling being the biggest culprit with 12 wides.

Scores

Old Georgians 200/7 in 50 overs (B. Erasmus 68, Extras 45; D Houghton 3/28, R Price 2/19)
Kwekwe 205/7 in 47.1 overs (D Hondo 47*, S Wright 4/19)

Kwekwe won by three wickets

Mutare Sports Club v Harare Sports Club

HSC travelled east in search of a victory to keep their flickering hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals alive, but failed dismally as Mutare put together their best performance of the season, and trounced the visitors by a humiliating eight wickets. Batting first, the visitors started well with Trevor Gripper and Brad Taylor putting together a fine partnership against some good bowling, particularly from captain Mark Burmester, but the wheels soon started to come off as wickets tumbled. A typically defiant innings from in-form Eddo Brandes rescued the visitors from complete embarrassment as they eventually managed 197 all out off 48.1 overs.

With a bowling attack which included Eddo Brandes, Brighton Watambwa and the wily Gavin Johnson-Robertson, HSC captain Donald Campbell would have still felt confident of victory against a Mutare side that has struggled with their batting this season. The Mutare reply started in dramatic fashion with Kingsley Went bowled by Brandes without scoring, but two major partnerships, firstly between Richard Sims and Neil Ferriera and then between Sims and Patrick Gada, saw Mutare to a remarkable victory, Simms recording the third century of the weekend.

Scores

HSC 197 all out in 48.1 overs (B Taylor 49, T Gripper 44, M Burmester 3/24)
Mutare 198/2 in 41.4 overs (R Sims 101*, N Ferreira 55, P Gada 33*)

Mutare won by eight wickets.

Old Hararians v Winstonians

Old Hararians hosted Winstonians in a seesaw match that was eventually won by OH. Winstonians were bolstered by the return to the side of the talented trio of Tatenda Taibu, Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri. Batting first, the visitors found the going tough as all of the OH bowlers bowled well. Teetering at 25/5, the innings was revitalised by another fine innings from Taibu, helping Winstonians to 146 all out.

The target was never likely to pose a major problem for OH but Maungwa again bowled with pace and fire to shred the top order apart and provide the visitors with a glimmer of hope. But the experienced Trevor Penney was joined by the young Sean Ervine, and the two batsmen grafted out a partnership which saw OH home to a four-wicket victory.

Scores

Winstonians 146 all out in 49.5 overs (T Taibu 64; G Brent 3/24)
OH 147/6 in 37.1 overs (S Ervine 41*, T Penney 38*; A Maungwa 4/34)

OH won by four wickets.

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