Logan Cup holder's Mashonaland start season with a win

Mashonaland got off to a flying start in the Castle Lager Logan Cup competition when they beat Matabeleland by eight wickets on the final day at Bulawayo Athletic Club yesterday.

The holders of the four-day competition scored 83 for two in 23 overs to romp to a comfortable victory. The home side produced a gallant batting performance, with most of their batsman scoring double figures to avoid an innings defeat. The most outstanding batsman was Gavin Ewing, who achieved a rare feat in scoring his maiden first-class century on debut.

The home side resumed their second innings at 109 for four, with night-watchman Norman Mukondiwa and Greg Strydom putting together a fifth-wicket stand of 103. Mukondiwa was first to depart when he was trapped leg before wicket by Blessing Mahwire for 13. Mike McKillop joined in the hunt for the runs but he did not last as he failed to settle in, being caught and bowled by Patrick Gada to depart without scoring.

Ewing joined Strydom and the two took the innings to a respectable score with some outstanding batting. They put on 104 runs for the sixth wicket and seemed set to bat the whole day. It was not to be, as Strydom departed after reaching his century, caught behind by wicketkeeper Donald Campbell off the bowling of Angus Mackay for 109 off 170 balls, an innings that included 15 fours.

Ewing continued his heroics with the home side going to lunch at 273 for eight. They lost Colin Williams three overs after lunch when the veteran was caught by Ryan Butterworth at first slip off the bowling of Mackay for 10 runs. Matthew Townshend went out the same way to the same bowler when Barney Rogers caught him at slip for seven runs.

The tail-end batsman offered some resistance but eventually gave in when Mahwire dismissed Tawanda Mupariwa for seven. He nicked a delivery from the medium-pacer to the slips where Campbell took a diving catch to end the innings. Ewing was left unbeaten with 106 runs, which included 17 fours and a six as the home side were all out for 333 in 95.3 overs, giving them an 82-run lead. Mahwire finished with four for 40 off 20.3 overs, with Mackay taking tow for 53 off 13 overs. Simon Seager, Darlington Matambanadzo and Gada took a wicket apiece.

Mashonaland lost openers Lance Malloch-Brown and Ryan Butterworth on their way to victory. Matabeleland's key strike bowler, Townshend, took his first and only wicket of the match when he took a catch off his own bowling to send back Malloch-Brown for eight runs in the ninth over. Mashonaland lost their second and last wicket when Butterworth was caught behind by wicketkeeper Warren Gilmour off the bowling of Mukondiwa for 26.

Kudzai Taibu, the young brother of national team player Tatenda, was left unbeaten with 40 runs off 43 balls, together with Gada who had two runs. Townshend finished with one for 32 off seven overs with two maidens, while Mukondiwa took a single wicket and conceded 23 runs off five overs.