The national league continued and the weekend was not a happy one for Bulawayo as far as the results show.

Macdonald Club visited Harare and went down to the ever-improving Takashinga team (formerly Winstonians) by 63 runs. Chasing 235, Mac Club could muster only 172 as their poor season form continues. National team player Tatenda Taibu scored a fluent 82 off 84 balls and certainly stood out as the player of the day.

Former champions Old Hararians recorded their second win of the season when they beat Bulawayo Sports Club by four wickets. Former Academy player Clement Mahachi showed his batting capabilities at last with a well compiled century, hopefully a glimpse of what is to come as the season progresses.

In the other local derby, and many of Bulawayo's former players will remember it as such, Queens, who have not won a game this season, lost to BAC. Batting first, Queens scored 232 all out with young Strydom 59 and Townshend 42 the main contributors, while BAC reached their target losing only six wickets, their main scorers - and both national hockey players -being veteran `Porgie' Williams and young Mike Mckillop with 71 and 58 respectively. It is hoped that Mckillop will be available this season as he will not have the hockey commitments he had last year. This fine young sportsman, from whom many youngsters would benefit if they tried to emulate his attitude towards sport, would strengthen the provincial side for the Logan Cup.

Over the weekend, the selectors will be naming the teams to play in a two-day game to get down to naming the squad for Logan Cup in February next year. One player who will be missing, as he was last season, will be Henry Olonga, who has opted to play for the Harare side Takashinga and will no longer be eligible to play for Matabeleland.

The Matabeleland pace attack is likely therefore to be built around Streak, Nkala, Mbangwa, Townshend and Mahachi. Gavin Wren, a former Under-19 player, is showing an interest in cricket again and could well force his way into contention.

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