VIGNE CUP, MASHONALAND: ROUND 2

At Alexandra Sports Club. Harare Sports Club 216 (D J R Campbell 84, T R Gripper 56) lost to Alex 219/6 (R Liddell 72, A R G Gilmour 38) by four wickets.

At Universals Sports Club. Old Georgians 321/3 (L S Malloch-Brown 114, B G Rogers 68, A J C Neethling 57) beat Universals 268 (H Adam 76, N B Mahwire 82) by 54 runs.

At Old Hararians Sports Club. OH 252 (R W Sims 97 not out, S M Ervine 63, T Taibu 4-35) beat Takashinga 219 (Chigumburo 117) by 33 runs.

The second week of the Mashonaland Vigne Cup First League saw defending champions Old Georgians and national league champions Old Hararians maintaining their winning starts.

Opening batsman Lance Malloch-Brown's century and some wayward bowling saw OGs piling up 321 runs for the loss of just three wickets. Malloch-Brown scored 114 while fellow-opener Andre Neethling contributed 57. Number three batsman Barney Rogers weighed in with 68 while Gus Mackay was unbeaten on 42. Universals' bowlers conceded 30 extras, including 12 wides and six no-balls.

In reply Universals were dismissed for 268 after 46.1 overs, with Blessing Mahwire top-scoring with 82.

The match at OH saw 15-year-old Churchill schoolboy Elton Chigumbura fighting a lone battle for Takashinga. Batting at number two, Chigumbura scored a sensational 117, which included six sixes and seven fours as Takashinga were chasing 253 to win. His other 10 teammates could, however, only manage to add 72 runs. The second-highest contribution to the Takashinga total came from extras, which totalled 30.

The nearest batsman was Chigumbura's Churchill schoolmate Stuart Matsikenyeri, who scored 19, 98 runs fewer than his junior colleague. Sean Ervine led the Old Hararians attack with four wickets for 41 off 10 overs.

Earlier OH had compiled 252 runs for the loss of nine wickets, with Richard Sims scoring an unbeaten 97 while Ervine made a useful 63. Wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu gave up the gloves and took up the ball. He did not disappoint, finishing with impressive figures of four for 35 off 10 overs.

The other match at Alex Sports Club saw the hosts beating Harare Sports Club by four wickets. Ross Liddell, who scored a half-century for Alex last week against Old Georgians, was in top form again, scoring 72 as Alex reached 219/6 in reply to Harare Sports Club's 216 with 6.3 overs to spare. Donald Campbell was the best batsman for the losers with 84.

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