Matabeleland suffered a second defeat in the Castle Lager Logan Cup competition to Midlands over the weekend. This was probably an unexpected result given that Midlands were missing Marillier, Wishart, Price and Friend who are currently in India with the national side.

Once again the question is asked, have Matabeleland the selectors capable of selecting the strongest and most balanced side for this first-class competition? One thinks and probably comes up with the answer, no.

While there is the pattern of playing youngsters and giving them a chance, and the way forward, selectors do not necessarily need to do so in a four-day first-class competition. Both Hitz, who now seems to have been discarded at this stage, and Townshend, a former Academy player as well as a member of the development team that visited Kenya a couple of years ago, are better players than Mupariwa and to a lesser extent Mukondiwa.

The batting line-up is weak at the prime positions of 3, 4 and 5, and this is where the lack of stability is evident and the results to date show this. A young player, Stu Walker, who is making runs consistently, has not even been considered for the squad. With Warren Gilmour leaving for the UK shortly, the vital position of wicketkeeper is now of concern. Siziba has kept wicket in the past, but is not the ideal replacement, and Walker could be the ideal player with his batting to take over.

The game itself revealed the shortcomings in the batting when Matabeleland, batting first, were 68 for four within 90 minutes into a four-day game. The second innings saw Matabeleland 70 for five again in under 90 minutes, which reveals an apparent weakness that is costing the side dearly in the longer game.

The highlight of the first innings was a superb century, 103 with 12 fours, by Wisdom Siziba who was unlucky to be last man out and so deprive himself of a further entry into the record books by carrying his bat for the second time, a feat he achieved on his first class debut, and scoring a century. His patience and application are an inspiration for his team-mates. In the second innings the only batsman to show any application of note was young Mike McKillop who scored 69 out of 213.

As far as the bowling is concerned, only Ewing with five for 80 showed any control in a rather mediocre attack. Young Mupariwa has one for 153 in two games and Mukondiwa three for 133, also in two games, and with Townshend one for 148 in the first game, admittedly bowling to Mackay Who scored his century in 46 balls, your pace attack is sadly lacking.

From the Midlands team, Macmillan had a good game with both bat and ball and a call-up to the national squad should not be to far away. Duffin, the former Zimbabwe Under-19 captain, had two solid innings of 74 and 25 and looked a sound and compact opening batsman, while skipper Viljoen must be pleased with both his all-round performances and being the winning skipper.

Matabeleland still have two hard matches to come, against Mashonaland A and Manicaland. One hopes the side will perform more positively for the rest of the season. . .

© Cricinfo