ZIMBABWE FIRST-CLASS CRICKET IN 1989/90

Captain: Andy Waller, Dave Houghton

Zimbabwe began the 1989/90 season in hope, due to the decision by the ICC that they should play five-day matches against representative teams from Test-playing countries, while serving a five-year probation period before their bid for full membership would be reconsidered in 1994. The first such series would be played against an England A team in February and March. In the meantime, Zimbabwe would also be preparing for their third ICC Trophy tournament, this time to be held in Holland, and victory and the consequent participation in the World Cup of 1991/92 was essential for the country's Test prospects.

However, this optimism was tempered by the news that their leading pace bowler and successful captain of the previous season, Peter Rawson, was leaving the country for Durban in South Africa. His dynamic leadership had completely revitalised the national side, and his loss was a devastating blow. It was very quickly felt in the matches against the Young West Indies team which arrived in October, captained by Brian Lara. The new captain, Andy Waller, had a thankless task as he tried to lead a dispirited team against a very powerful opposition.

Lara's team included such players as Carl Hooper, Jimmy Adams, David Williams, Junior Murray and Tony Grey. Dave Houghton was the only Zimbabwe batsman of international class at this time, and he held his team's batting together almost single-handedly, until he missed the final matches to play for the Rest of the World against the West Indies in Toronto, Canada, where he scored 86 and won the Man of the Match award. Thanks to Houghton's fine batting, Zimbabwe held the tourists to a draw in the first of the

three-match first-class series, but not even he could save the side as they collapsed weakly in the second. Without him, the situation appeared hopeless in the final match, and for three successive first-class innings only the last-wicket pair took Zimbabwe to three figures. This tour was perhaps the nadir of Zimbabwe's cricketing fortunes between Independence and Test status.

Similarly Eddo Brandes, in one of his best seasons, proved to be Zimbabwe's only strike weapon with the ball, although John Traicos was still there to provide steadiness with his accurate off-spin on pitches that never gave him any real help. In the one-day series, the Young West Indies won 3-1, with one match rained off, but at least the defeats here were not overwhelming.

Unfortunately, a back injury kept Andy Waller out of the England A tour and also the ICC tournament. Dave Houghton again took over as captain. The England A team was captained by Mark Nicholas and contained such players as Mike Atherton, Graham Thorpe, Steve Rhodes, David Lawrence and Derek Pringle.

Despite their limited resources and low morale, the Zimbabwe team pulled itself up somewhat when faced with England A and five-day cricket for the first time. In the event, five days proved to be one day too many at this stage of Zimbabwe's development, and it led to some very dull cricket, with batsmen from both sides engaging in a war of attrition. Zimbabwe were strengthened by the return of Andy Pycroft from a self-imposed exile, now that definite progress was being made towards Test status, but only in the final match did he find any form. Houghton was the only batsman to score runs with any consistency, but there were good occasional innings by some of the other batsmen. Andy Flower, who took over the wicket-keeping gloves when Houghton yielded them for the last time due to a painful hand condition, showed perhaps the most promise. With Brandes not always fit, Traicos was very much the backbone of the Zimbabwean bowling, and he bowled some marathon spells for very economical analyses; many experienced observers thought him still the best off-spinner in the world.

Zimbabwe held their own in the first unofficial Test until a second-innings batting collapse sent them tumbling to defeat. More determined batting enabled them to hold out for a draw in the second match, while they redeemed a poor first-innings performance to secure another draw in the third and final match. England A won the one-day series 3-0, but Zimbabwe's defeats were not overwhelming.

Houghton enjoyed by far the best season of his career up to this stage, and all his runs were made under the pressure of knowing that his success was vital to the team. He scored 701 runs at an average of 87.62, the highlight being his superb 202 against England A. Andy Flower scored 329 runs (average 32.90), but no other batsman reached even 150. Unfortunately Kevin Arnott had a disappointing season and Darrell Goodwin appeared to lose interest; this was in fact his final season as he withdrew from regular cricket for business reasons. Grant Flower, younger brother of Andy, made a promising debut against England A, though.

Brandes, though not always fit, took most wickets, 17, at an average of 30.29. The medium-fast bowlers Malcolm Jarvis (12 wickets at 41.00) and Kevin Duers (11 wickets at 51.18) toiled hard in support, while Traicos, with no assistance from the pitches but conceding only 1.84 runs per over, took 10 at 49.10.

Zimbabwe preceded their visit to Holland for the ICC tournament with a brief tour of England. After losing two one-day matches, they drew three first-class matches against under-strength county opposition, which allowed some of their players to turn in career-best performances not always fully deserved. Ali Shah (officially Omarshah) scored 215 runs on tour (average 71.66), including 185 against Gloucestershire, while Colin Robertson (168 runs at 33.60) scored 125 against Lancashire. Eddo Brandes took most wickets, with 7 at 23.57. Pycroft captained the team on this leg of the tour, as Houghton and Andy Flower were engaged with clubs in Holland. Zimbabwe did very well to win their third ICC tournament, again

unbeaten, although this was expected to be much the hardest of their three tournaments. They were at their weakest, they were to play on matting wickets and the home team was Holland, who gave them a hard fight in the previous final. Besides this, many of the associate members had further improved their game over the past four years. But Zimbabwe had prepared thoroughly and they always showed great confidence against this class of opposition, which was often not transferred to stronger opponents. Again they won all their matches, and finished their ICC career with 23 victories out of 25 matches, the other two being rained off.

Andy Flower was the leading run-scorer, with 311 at an average of 77.75, followed by his brother Grant (253 at 84.33). Brandes was the most successful bowler, his 18 wickets coming at an average of 12.77. Traicos took 11 at 13.09, Jarvis 10 at 17.90 and Shah 10 at 18.80.

YOUNG WEST INDIES TOUR

(Not first-class) At Harare South Country Club; 3, 4, 5 October. ZIMBABWE B 143 (R D Brown 47; A H Gray 6/29) and 134 (R D Brown 42; L A Joseph 6/26). YOUNG WEST INDIES 349/9 dec (C L Hooper 47, J C Adams 137*, A H Gray 58; A C I Lock 4/89, D F Dolphin 5/112). Young West Indies won by an innings and 72 runs.

(1ST ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 8 October. YOUNG WEST INDIES 194/4 (B C Lara 46, D A Joseph 68*, J C Adams 39*). ZIMBABWE 167 (D L Houghton 48; I A Allen 3/27). Young West Indies won by 27 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 10, 11, 12, 13 October. ZIMBABWE 344/9 dec (A Flower 39, D G Goodwin 58, D L Houghton 165; A H Gray 5/70, L A Joseph 4/128) and 156/3 (R D Brown 34, A Flower 44*, D L Houghton 56*). YOUNG WEST INDIES 396 (D S Morgan 31, B C Lara 145, D A Joseph 87; E A Brandes 5/117). Match drawn.

(2ND ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 15 October. YOUNG WEST INDIES 168 (D A Joseph 48; E A Brandes 3/29). ZIMBABWE 169/5 (C M Robertson 43, D L Houghton 44*). Zimbabwe won by five wickets.

(Not first-class) At Triangle Country Club; 18, 19, 20 October. YOUNG WEST INDIES 548/9 dec (S Dhaniram 228, D A Joseph 62, C L Hooper 100, J R Murray 40; A C I Lock 4/125) and 265/5 (C B Lambert 43, C L Hooper 47*, S Dhaniram 56*). YOUNG ZIMBABWE 161 (W R James 69, J P Brent 40; R Dhanraj 4/47). Match drawn.

(3RD ODI) At Mutare Sports Club; 22 October. ZIMBABWE 231/4 (K J Arnott 75, A Flower 58, D L Houghton 40*). YOUNG WEST INDIES 45/0. Match drawn (bad light and rain).

At Harare Sports Club; 24, 25, 26, 27 October. ZIMBABWE 106 (D L Houghton 36; A H Gray 7/30) and 102 (D L Houghton 48; A H Gray 3/24, R Dhanraj 3/29, C L Hooper 3/10). YOUNG WEST INDIES 438 (C B Lambert 219, B C Lara 35, D L Hooper 86, J C Adams 31; E A Brandes 3/105). Young West Indies won by an innings and 230 runs.

(4TH ODI) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 29 October. YOUNG WEST INDIES 313/6 (C B Lambert 105, D S Morgan 42, S Dhaniram 36, C L Hooper 42; I P Butchart 4/97). ZIMBABWE 251 (A Flower 83, D L Houghton 35, A C Waller 75; S Dhaniram 3/56). Young West Indies won by 62 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 31 October, 1, 2, 3 November. ZIMBABWE 106 (L A Joseph 3/37, C L Hooper 3/19) and 182 (R D Brown 32, A Flower 43; R Dhanraj 6/79, N O Perry 3/61). YOUNG WEST INDIES 344 (D A Joseph 149, J C Adams 35, L A Joseph 67; D F Dolphin 3/59). Young West Indies won by an innings and 56 runs.

(5TH ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 5 November. YOUNG WEST INDIES 246/9 (C B Lambert 32, D A Joseph 59, B C Lara 55; E A Brandes 5/34). ZIMBABWE 209 (D G Goodwin 38, A Flower 51, A C Waller 54; R Dhanraj 3/39, C L Hooper 3/22). Young West Indies won by 37 runs.

ENGLAND A TOUR

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 18 February. ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 216/8 (R D Brown 65, C M Robertson 67; A P Igglesden 4/22). ENGLAND A 207/9 (J J Whitaker 59, R J Blakey 46, R K Illingworth 34; I P Butchart 4/40). Zimbabwe Country Districts won by 9 runs.

(Not first-class) At Mutare Sports Club; 20, 21, 22 February. ENGLAND A 294/5 dec (J P Stephenson 90, M A Atherton 91, D J Bicknell 50*, S J Rhodes 32*; G J Crocker 3/68) and 191/3 dec (J J Whitaker 80 retired hurt, G P Thorpe 69). YOUNG ZIMBABWE 204/8 dec (G K Bruk-Jackson 43, G W Flower 46, C N Evans 35; M A Atherton 5/35) and 143 (D G Goodwin 60; J A Afford 3/25). England A won by 138 runs.

(1ST ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 24 February. ZIMBABWE 134/6 (E A Brandes 33*; A P Igglesden 3/39). ENGLAND A 118/4 (M C J Nicholas 39*). England A won by six wickets (target reduced to 118 in 44 overs).

(2ND ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 25 February. ENGLAND A 245/5 (D J Bicknell 70, R J Blakey 73, G P Thorpe 50*). ZIMBABWE 184/8 (D L Houghton 88; M A Atherton 3/23). England A won by 61 runs.

(Not first-class) At Harare South Country Club; 27, 28 February, 1 March. ZIMBABWE B 107 (D V Lawrence 6/35) and 205/6 (N P Hough 77, J P Brent 46*). ENGLAND A 282/5 dec (D J Bicknell 66, J P Stephenson 49, M A Atherton 97*). Match drawn.

At Harare Sports Club; 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 March. ZIMBABWE 290 (A H Omarshah 98, D L Houghton 108; A P Igglesden 3/50, D R Pringle 3/70) and 118 (M A Atherton 3/4). ENGLAND A 366 (M A Atherton 103, R J Blakey 92, M C J Nicholas 53, G P Thorpe 44; E A Brandes 3/92, K G Duers 4/66) and 43/0. England A won by ten wickets.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 March. ENGLAND A 529/9 dec (M A Atherton 122, R J Blakey 221, M C J Nicholas 50, S J Rhodes 41; M P Jarvis 5/127) and 133/5 (M C J Nicholas 37*). ZIMBABWE 403 (D L Houghton 202, G A Paterson 93, A Flower 37; M P Bicknell 4/74, J P Stephenson 3/22). Match drawn.

(3RD ODI) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 18 March. ENGLAND A 247/5 (M A Atherton 101, G P Thorpe 66*). ZIMBABWE 219 (A Flower 31, D G Goodwin 60, D L Houghton 37, C M Robertson 38; A P Igglesden 4/34). England A won by 28 runs.

(Not first-class). At Harare Sports Club; 20, 21, 22 March. ENGLAND A 329/5 dec (D J Bicknell 49, J J Whitaker 186, G P Thorpe 55) and 179/1 dec (D J Bicknell 101*, S J Rhodes 65*). ZIMBABWE B 198 (W R James 78; D V Lawrence 3/62, M P Bicknell 3/44, S L Watkin 3/54) and 207/5 (G A Briant 103*). Match drawn.

At Harare Sports Club; 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 March. ZIMBABWE 149 (A Flower 36; A P Igglesden 5/33) and 296/7 (G W Flower 52, A Flower 78, D L Houghton 57, A J Pycroft 70). ENGLAND A 377/9 dec (R K Illingworth 106, M C J Nicholas 38, G P Thorpe 98, S J Rhodes 86; E A Brandes 4/119, A J Traicos 3/81). Match drawn.

TOUR OF ENGLAND

(55 overs) At Hove; 13 May. SUSSEX 233/8 (J W Hall 53, M P Speight 76, P Moores 39). ZIMBABWEANS 138 (P W Threlfall 4/30, I D K Salisbury 4/25). Sussex won by 95 runs.

(55 overs) At Chelmsford; 14 May. ESSEX 265/6 (J P Stephenson 105, G A Gooch 105). ZIMBABWEANS 194 (A J Pycroft 62, J P Brent 32; S J W Andrew 4/36, J P Stephenson 3/26). Essex won by 71 runs.

At Leeds; 16, 17, 18 May. YORKSHIRE 298/9 dec (M D Moxon 130, A A Metcalfe 49, C S Pickles 54*; E A Brandes 3/75) and 147/2 dec (S A Kellett 39, A A Metcalfe 30, R J Blakey 58*). ZIMBABWEANS 147 (P J Hartley 4/27) and 159/6 (G A Briant 35, J P Brent 34*; D Gough 3/32). Match drawn.

At Bristol; 19, 21, 22 May. GLOUCESTERSHIRE 267/3 dec (I P Butcher 78, G D Hodgson 126, M W Alleyne 37) and 206 (J W Lloyds 31, M W Alleyne 54; E A Brandes 4/35, A J Traicos 3/43). ZIMBABWEANS 368/9 dec (W R James 36, A H Omarshah 185, G A Briant 69; D V Lawrence 3/45, K M Curran 3/80) and 89/3. Match drawn.

At Manchester; 23, 24, 25 May. LANCASHIRE 326/6 dec (G D Lloyd 78, N J Speak 138, M Watkinson 48) and 310/3 dec (G D Lloyd 76, N J Speak 74, S P Titchard 80, J P Crawley 76*). ZIMBABWEANS 376/6 dec (G W Flower 65, C M Robertson 125, I P Butchart 71, A J Pycroft 55) and 78/2 (W R James 52). Match drawn.

ICC TOURNAMENT

FIRST ROUND: At The Hague; 4 June. MALAYSIA 80 (A J Traicos 4/10). ZIMBABWE 81/1 (A Flower 56*). Zimbabwe won by nine wickets.

At Nijmegen; 6 June. SINGAPORE 108 (E A Brandes 3/30, M P Jarvis 4/21). ZIMBABWE 109/0 (G A Paterson 52*, G W Flower 53*). Zimbabwe won by ten wickets.

At Haarlem; 10 June. ZIMBABWE 215 (G W Flower 70, A H Omarshah 39; D Joseph 3/27, T Gardner 3/47). CANADA 147 (A Dornellas 33, M Prashad 32*; A J Traicos 3/18, A H Omarshah 3/37). Zimbabwe won by 68 runs.

SECOND ROUND: At Haarlem; 14 June. PAPUA NEW GUINEA 133 (K Ila 34; K G Duers 3/19, J P Brent 3/40). ZIMBABWE 134/1 (G W Flower 49*, A Flower 80*). Zimbabwe won by nine wickets.

At Nijmegen; 16 June. USA 131 (K R Khan 32; K G Duers 3/23, E A Brandes 5/22). ZIMBABWE 132/3 (G W Flower 52, A Flower 32). Zimbabwe won by seven wickets.

At Amsterdam; 18 June. ZIMBABWE 259/9 (A H Omarshah 69, A Flower 44, A J Pycroft 34, G A Briant 48; M Suji 3/47). KENYA 126/6 (I Tariq Iqbal 36, S Gupta 30; E A Brandes 3/39). Zimbabwe won by 133 runs.

SEMI-FINAL At The Hague; 21, 22 June. ZIMBABWE 231/7 (D L Houghton 91, E A Brandes 66*; G M Nowsher 3/47). BANGLADESH 147 (M Abedin 57; M P Jarvis 3/22, K G Duers 4/25). Zimbabwe won by 84 runs.

FINAL At The Hague; 23 June. HOLLAND 197 (G J A F Aponso 36, S W Lubbers 47; A H Omarshah 4/56). ZIMBABWE 198/4 (A Flower 69*, A J Pycroft 45). Zimbabwe won by six wickets.

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 1990/91