For Zimbabwe cricket, the season of 1988/89 stands almost as a solitary mountain-top among the many troughs between the departure of Graeme Hick in 1986 and the gaining of Test status in 1992. For this one season, Zimbabwe's cricketers were able to rise to the challenge of powerful opposition, in this case the New Zealand Young Internationals, and come out decisively on top.

One man was almost single-handedly responsible for this unexpected revival: the new captain, Peter Rawson. John Traicos resigned the captaincy before the start of the season, although still available as a player, and Rawson, also a former national hockey captain, took over. He soon showed the ability to revitalise the side and lead from the front, and his bowling was completely rejuvenated. In recent seasons, due to Zimbabwe's limited bowling resouces, he had seemed more of a workhorse than a strike bowler, conserving his energy at times in the knowledge that he would be called upon to bowl long spells on the unresponsive Harare Sports Club pitch. Now, fully in control himself, he resumed his rightful place as the incisive spearhead of the attack and his team followed him with enthusiasm. The team's success was also achieved without the assistance of Zimbabwe's leading batsman, Andy Pycroft, who had retired through disillusionment at the direction Zimbabwe cricket appeared to be taking. Sadly, this revival was to last for one season only. At the ICC

meeting in July 1989, Zimbabwe's application for Test status was again rejected, although an agreement was reached that Zimbabwe could in future play five-day unofficial Tests. Shortly after this, it was announced that Rawson would be leaving for Durban in South Africa for two years for business reasons, although it was later clear that this was only a cover; he had in fact accepted a lucrative contract to play for Natal and he never returned to Zimbabwe. On his departure, the country's cricket was to slip again into a trough which was to last until the granting of Test status. Once again, Zimbabwe's 'limbo' position in world cricket had cost the country another outstanding player.

Rawson started his career as captain with a series against a powerful New Zealand Young Internationals team, captained by Bert Vance and containing such players as Mark Greatbatch, Danny Morrison, Ken Rutherford and Chris Cairns, as well as several other Test players. After suffering a heavy defeat in the first one-day match, Rawson began to make his influence felt. An enthralling first-class match, the first in a series of three, resulted in a 4-run victory for Zimbabwe after being behind on first innings, and the captain himself played a leading part. Rain ruined the second match with neither team having gained a clear advantage, before Zimbabwe won the third convincingly, a victory which would have been overwhelming but for a brilliant century by Ken Rutherford. Zimbabwe also won the one-day series 3-2. The tour finished with a fine victory by a genuine Young Zimbabwe team over the touists in Mutare. 20 It was not only the results but also the positive, confident way in which they were achieved which brought encouragement to Zimbabwe's long-suffering supporters. The English county player Barry Dudleston was appointed coach to the national side and he too deserves credit for the team's achievements.

Zimbabwe had been hoping for a full international side, this time hopefully India, to visit the country at the end of the season, but once again found the Test-playing countries unwilling to oblige. Although Lancashire filled the gap as a prelude to their county season, it was an inevitable anticlimax, but Rawson did not allow his team to lose its competitive edge. Zimbabwe enjoyed a clean sweep in the limited programme, overwhelming Lancashire in the first-class fixture and winning both one-day matches. Andy Flower made his debut for Zimbabwe in this series. At a lower level, the Zimbabwe schools team toured New Zealand and an Under-25 team toured England, as the ZCU, despite severe financial constraints, implemented its policy of giving as much experience as possible to the country's young cricketers. These tours were to reap their rewards in the future.

Zimbabwe's successes were due mainly to the improvement in bowling, backed by brilliant fielding; the batting was still inconsistent, but it now generally proved adequate for the job, so the deficiencies were not so evident. Only two batsmen passed 200 runs. Darrell Goodwin continued to develop as a capable and aggressive opening batsman, scoring 264 runs at an average of 44, while Dave Houghton, handing over the wicket-keeping gloves to Robin Brown in first-class matches as constant keeping was beginning to affect his hands, scored 222 at an average of 44.40.

Rawson dominated the bowling, taking no fewer than 30 of the 67 wickets to fall to Zimbabwe's bowlers during the season, at a remarkable average of 9.90. Kevin Duers took 13 at 22.23, and John Traicos 11 at 30.18. Eddo Brandes had a poor season with the ball, taking only six wickets; had he been at his best in partnership with Rawson, Zimbabwe's achievements would have been more notable still. However, he did enter the record books by taking the first hat-trick ever recorded in the country's first-class history against the New Zealanders in the final match of the series. 20

NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS TOUR

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 25 September. NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 294/3 (P A Horne 76, T J Franklin 84, R H Vance 64*, K R Rutherford 49). ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 193 (A D Elliott 80; J P Millmow 3/33, K R Rutherford 4/44). New Zealand Young Internationals won by 101 runs.

At Harare South Country Club; 27, 28, 29 September. ZIMBABWE B 347/5 dec (G K Bruk-Jackson 47, G A Briant 58, C D James 69, C M Robertson 95, D L Houghton 36*) and 101/3 (E A Essop-Adam 49*). NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 357/4 dec (P A Horne 71, T J Franklin 43, M R Pringle 120*, G R Larson 44, T E Blain 44*). Match drawn.

At Harare Sports Club; 1 October. ZIMBABWE B 197 (G K Bruk-Jackson 42, C D James 37; W Watson 3/24). NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 199/2 (P A Horne 101*, M J Greatbatch 47, K R Rutherford 35*). New Zealand Young Internationals won by eight wickets.

(1ST ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 2 October. ZIMBABWE 219/4 (K J Arnott 41, D L Houghton 68, C M Robertson 74*; W Watson 3/46). NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 220/1 (P A Horne 120*, T J Franklin 48, K R Rutherford 47*). New Zealand Young Internationals won by nine wickets.

At Harare Sports Club; 4, 5, 6, 7 October. ZIMBABWE 139 (P W E Rawson 31; W Watson 3/49, S A Thomson 5/49) and 214 (D G Goodwin 52, D L Houghton 68; S W Duff 5/77, K R Rutherford 3/16). NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 200 (T J Franklin 37, R H Vance 40, S W Duff 46; P W E Rawson 3/32, K G Duers 4/50) and 149 (P W E Rawson 5/44, A J Traicos 3/63). Zimbabwe won by 4 runs.

(2ND ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 9 October. ZIMBABWE 230/9 (A C Waller 41, E A Brandes 50, I P Butchart 31*). NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTER-NATIONALS 174/9 (K R Rutherford 34; K G Duers 5/24, E A Brandes 3/34). Zimbabwe won by 56 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 11, 12, 13 October. NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 286/9 dec (R H Vance 31, M J Greatbatch 81, K R Rutherford 33, M R Pringle 52, G R Larsen 34*; P W E Rawson 3/39). ZIMBABWE 165/5 (A C Waller 52, D L Houghton 43). Match drawn.

(3RD ODI) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 15 October. NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 197/9 (G R Larsen 65, C L Cairns 38; P W E Rawson 3/29). ZIMBABWE 198/5 (C M Robertson 70*, E A Brandes 37*). Zimbabwe won by five wickets.

(4TH ODI) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 16 October. NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 192/8 (G R Larsen 49; P W E Rawson 3/40). ZIMBABWE 186 (I P Butchart 34; S W Duff 3/27). New Zealand Young Internationals won by 6

runs. At Harare Sports Club; 18, 19, 21, 22 October. NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 264 (K R Rutherford 144*, G R Larsen 51; K G Duers 3/58, E A Brandes 3/50 including hat-trick) and 162 (T J Franklin 39; P W E Rawson 7/41). ZIMBABWE 330 (G A Paterson 34, R D Brown 74, D L Houghton 90; S W Duff 3/56) and 100/3 (D G Goodwin 42). Zimbabwe won by seven wickets.

(5TH ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 23 October. NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTERNATIONALS 222/9 (M J Greatbatch 47, G R Larsen 34; E A Brandes 5/47). ZIMBABWE 223/7 (C M Robertson 38, D L Houghton 61, A C Waller 38). Zimbabwe won by three wickets (match reduced to 47 overs each).

At Mutare Sports Club; 25 October. NEW ZEALAND YOUNG INTER-NATIONALS 216/6 (M J Greatbatch 72*, T E Blain 47). YOUNG ZIMBABWE 217/8 (G A Briant 72, W R James 42; C L Cairns 4/44, K R Rutherford 3/43). Young Zimbabwe won by two wickets.

LANCASHIRE TOUR

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 1 April. LANCASHIRE 188/8 (N J Speak 62; R M Ervine 3/34). ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 159/6 (36 overs) (G K Bruk-Jackson 97*, K J Arnott 35). Zimbabwe Country Districts won on a faster run rate.

(1ST ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 2 April. ZIMBABWE 198 (C M Robertson 41, A C Waller 56; P J W Allott 4/35). LANCASHIRE 131 (D P Hughes 27; K G Duers 4/38). Zimbabwe won by 67 runs.

(Not first-class) At Harare Sports Club; 4, 5, 6 April. LANCA-SHIRE 325 (N J Speak 36, N H Fairbrother 54, M Watkinson 37, W K Hegg 50, J D Fitton 50, I Folley 50; M P Jarvis 3/87, D B Lake 4/50) and 144/6 dec (N H Fairbrother 45; J P Brent 3/71). ZIMBABWE B 198 (K G Walton 45, G A Briant 33, W R James 40, J P Brent 42; M Watkinson 5/34) and 124/5 (G K Bruk-Jackson 36, W R James 35*; I D Austin 4/19). Match drawn.

At Harare Sports Club; 8, 10, 11 April. LANCASHIRE 86 (A N Hayhurst 30*; P W E Rawson 7/30) 20and 206 (G D Mendis 40, G Fowler 76; P W E Rawson 3/71). ZIMBABWE 275 (D G Goodwin 85, A C Waller 99, P W E Rawson 45; P A J DeFreitas 4/73, I D Austin 3/44) and 19/0. Zimbabwe won by ten wickets.

(2ND ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 9 April. ZIMBABWE 236/7 (K J Arnott 45, C M Robertson 43, D L Houghton 45*). LANCASHIRE 228/8 (N H Fairbrother 85, T E Jesty 56; K G Duers 3/65, E A Brandes 3/63). Zimbabwe won by 8 runs.

It is intended in the future to produce full scorecards, and also much more information about all cricket in Zimbabwe during this season.

It is intended in the future to produce full scorecards, and also much more information about all cricket in Rhodesia during this season. At present, the next entry in this section is for 1989/90