Last weekend saw Manicaland run the Mashonaland senior team perilously close to defeat at Harare Sports Club during their second Logan Cup fixture of the season. The Mashonaland side, which contained eight past or present Test players, was supposed to have travelled to Mutare for this fixture, but a decision was made early in the week to move the game to Harare given the state of the Mutare ground, its inadequate pitch protection and the weather.

A new and hastily prepared pitch was readied at the Harare Test venue and both captains knew from the outset it would deteriorate more the longer the game progressed. Mark Burmester was happy to be put in, not relishing fourth use of this minefield-in-waiting.

Manicaland started badly, losing two early wickets before Patrick Gada and Stuart Matsikenyeri steadied things with a 51-run partnership for the third wicket. Stuart is a Churchill schoolboy recommended to us last season by Bill Flower during his year coaching in Manicaland. His 70 in 177 minutes was a polished performance in trying conditions, especially considering the quality of the opposition. Zimbabwe tend to produce proportionately more black bowlers than batsman at national level and Stuart's progress is being followed with much anticipation.

A middle-order collapse presented an opportunity for another youngster, Hillcrest schoolboy Andre Soma, to show his all-round talents with a fighting unbeaten 31 at 10. Normally asked by his captain to provide half a dozen brisk overs, these first-class runs were an unexpected bonus.

Bowled out at tea for 205, Manicaland struck back to have Mashonaland struggling at 84/4 at stumps. Skipper Burmester felt although the total was low it was worth 300 elsewhere, so it wasn't a bad day's work. Amongst the four Mashonaland wickets to fall was the almost obligatory Alistair Campbell run-out, this time for 6.

Day two saw Mashonaland bowled out themselves for 205 in 62.5 overs. Manicaland had a great opportunity of getting the upper hand but failed to hold a sitter from Craig Evans on 35, allowing him to complete what proved to be a match-winning 78. Burmester was the unlucky bowler during a spell of three for 43 that included the wickets of Andy Flower and Trevor Madondo. National discard Gary Brent bowled a good line for Manicaland, finishing with three for 48 off 24.2 overs. Soma chipped in with the important wicket of Paul Strang for 16.

Manicaland found themselves in a war zone when their second innings started after lunch on the second day. Faced with the prospect of defeat at the hands of the rural no-hopers, Mashonaland's verbal machinery moved into top gear. Shot out for 114 within eight minutes of stumps, only Richie Sims, Jason Young and Gary Brent with 33, 27 and 29 not out offered any resistance.

Day three saw Mashonaland wobble home to a nervous two-wicket victory with former Manicaland skipper Paul Strang guiding them to safety with a top-scoring unbeaten 22. Gary Brent finished with five for 44 off 16.4 overs and his eight in the match will surely nudge the selectors. The Strang brothers got 14 wickets between them, particularly enjoyed no doubt by Bryan for the times Manicaland failed to pick him during his schoolboy years in Mutare.

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