The Castle Lager Logan Cup cricket match between Matabeleland and Mashonaland seems to be going to the wire as it remained evenly balanced on the second day at Queens Sports Club yesterday.

Some meaningful individual contributions saw Matabeleland take their score to a respectable total, all out for 318 in 102.2 overs, taking a 49-run lead before Mashonaland closed on 13 not out in six overs.

Matabeleland resumed on 32 without loss with Wisdom Siziba and Stuart Walker on 17 and 14 respectively. The two openers did not last as they were both out in the first overs of the day. Walker was first to leave the field of play when he was bowled by Douglas Hondo for 18 runs in the third over of the day. Siziba followed his partner in the next over when he was trapped leg before wicket by David Mutendera, adding only one run to his overnight score.

Mercury Kenny could not stand the pressure from the Mashonaland A pace bowlers and only managed seven runs before he saw his nick caught behind by wicketkeeper Alester Maregwede. Matabeleland's hopes had been dashed until Ryan King and Gregory Strydom revived their hopes with a brilliant batting performance. The two Queens Sports Club batsmen shared a 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Strydom was the more aggressive, with King playing a good anchor role while his partner went for the runs.

King finally departed when he was dismissed by Grant Flower, caught behind by Maregwede for 39, and the score had flown from 55 to 174. Strydom continued his heroics and the home side went to lunch with 188 runs on the board. The youngster however was out to the first ball after lunch when he lunged onto a wide delivery from Hondo and found himself caught behind by Maregwede. It was the end to a fine innings by the 17-year-old batsman who is having a good run in the competition. His innings comprised eight fours and two sixes.

Strydom's dismissal marked the collapse of the Matabeleland innings. Heath Streak failed to find his best form with the bat and only put five runs on the board when he fell to Hondo, with Flower taking a difficult catch to send back his national teammate. Keith Dabengwa and captain Colin Williams scored nine and one respectively as Matabeleland's hopes of taking a lead crumbled.

Tail-enders Gavin Ewing and Mpumelelo Mbangwa made sure that Matabeleland took a lead with a gallant stand. When Mbangwa came in to bat, the score was 264, six runs behind their opponents. Mbangwa utilised his international experience and put a few runs on the board, which made the difference. Ewing and Mbangwa shared a 54-run stand for the last wicket with Mbangwa scoring 20 runs before he became the last wicket to fall, bowled by Hondo. Ewing remained unbeaten with 56 runs in which he struck 10 fours.

Hondo was the pick of the visitor's bowlers with a haul of four wickets, with Mutendera close behind with three wickets while Flower took two wickets. Tatenda Taibu took one wicket with Prosper Utseya and Elton Chigumbura bowling expensive overs. In reply Mashonaland were still 35 runs behind at the close, with their openers Grant Flower and Brendon Taylor looking solid on eight and five respectively.

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