As expected, the Logan Cup match between Manicaland andMashonaland fizzled out into a tame draw at Mutare Sports Club
John Ward19-Mar-2000LOGAN CUP REPORT: MANICALAND v MASHONALAND, Day 3By John WardAs expected, the Logan Cup match between Manicaland andMashonaland fizzled out into a tame draw at Mutare Sports Club.Mashonaland gained full batting points in their total of 353 fornine wickets declared, but Manicaland safely batted out thematch.The first over on another unexpectedly sunny morning was aneventful one. Terry Denyer still had five balls of hisunfinished over to complete after it had been interrupted by badlight the previous evening. His second ball, short, was pulledby overnight batsman Dirk Viljoen for four; off the fourthViljoen (66) attempted a tentative cover drive and snicked acatch straight to Guy Whittall at first slip.Dan Peacock, promoted in the order, soon showed he deserved itwith some crisp strokes, including three fours, two through thecovers and one through midwicket, off Denyer. Don Campbelllooked much less comfortable and had a lucky escape when he skyeda ball just short of the deep midwicket fielder. He was finallyout for 14, caught at the wicket pushing forward to AndrewWhittall.Gus Mackay played himself in for a couple of overs beforebeginning a typical onslaught: 9 off an over from Lawson, 15 offAndrew Whittall, then 15 off Lawson again, including a six overand another on to the pavilion. He slowed down dramatically onapproaching his fifty, content with a single off almost everyball, before finally reaching the landmark off 35 balls. By nowhe had lost Peacock, well caught at extra cover for 42 offLawson. Almost immediately after reaching his fifty, though, hehit Whittall straight down the throat of Yatras at long-off to beout for 51, scored off 39 balls, with 3 sixes and 5 fours.Mashonaland had by now swept into the lead and were on 293 foreight.Everton Matambanadzo, now at number ten, was keen to prove hisimproved batting ability. A thick outside edge brought him aremarkable six over backward point, followed by a sliced four inthe same area. On 18 he was given out lbw to Soma, butManicaland, realising that it had hit his bat, withdrew theirappeal, in a sporting gesture all too rare in modern cricket. Hecelebrated with six more runs in the over before being superblycaught by Guy Whittall at extra cover for 20.Then came a useful last-wicket stand between Anton Hoffman andGary du Plessis, which was still unbroken at lunch whenMashonaland were 341 for nine (Hoffman 25, du Plessis 4). Duringthe interval the Mashona players tried to pressure the Manicacaptain into agreeing to set them a target, but he failed to fallfor it, knowing full well victory for his team was a virtualimpossibility. Afterwards Hoffman opened aggressively, hittingtwo fours and two twos to take the total to 353 and maximumbatting points before Mashonaland declared.Manicaland went in to bat again with 75 overs left and a deficitof 66 runs, with Mashonaland the only team to have a realisticchance of victory. They had no real alternative but to playsafe. Neil Ferreira scarcely offered an attacking stroke in thefirst hour, while Patrick Gada occasionally unleashed a powerfuldrive or pull when he found a suitable ball.After drinks the batsmen gradually began to play more positively,but were to regret it. Gada (22) tried to hit Gavin Rennie outof the ground, but instead was caught by Craig Evans on themidwicket boundary, while Mark Burmester (1) drove over a ballfrom Viljoen and was bowled. Ferreira, however, was determinednot to be moved, and Guy Whittall settled in without muchtrouble. At tea a draw was looming with Manicaland on 64 fortwo, still two runs behind (Ferreira 25, Whittall 13).According to the regulations, a match cannot be abandoned as adraw until 3.40pm on the final day, which in this case meant justen minutes’ play after tea. This made for some fooling around,with Evans keeping wicket and Campbell bowling with the entirefielding side in the slips. He ran out Whittall backing up,although it was hard to tell how seriously; umpire Graham Gilmourspoke to the captain, Gus Mackay, and Whittall continued hisinnings, but that may have been the original intention anyway.The atmosphere was frivolous, but it was hard to tell, asMashonaland unfortunately left a bad impression behind them ofsome petulance on the field and far too much needling of thelocal batsmen. The final total was 77 for two (Ferreira 32,Whittall 17).