da fezbet： Matabeleland had a surprisingly easy day of it at Kwekwe Sports Club asMidlands crumbled in the afternoon session and handed them a handsomevictory by an innings and 77 runs
John Ward13-Apr-2003Matabeleland had a surprisingly easy day of it at Kwekwe Sports Club asMidlands crumbled in the afternoon session and handed them a handsomevictory by an innings and 77 runs. Gavin Ewing had another fine day withseven wickets in the Midlands second innings.Midlands began the day on 244 for four, still 354 runs behind Matabelelandand with six wickets in hand. The weather, although still mostly sunny, haddeveloped a rather chilly crosswind, but the bowlers rarely seemed able totake advantage of it. The overnight batsmen, Dirk Viljoen and Don Campbell,made a scratchy start, and Campbell especially seemed to have a charmedlife, several times fishing outside the off stump as Jordane Nicollemaintained a teasing line, but without getting a touch, and also survived acouple of close lbw shouts.Finally, though, he took a wild swing at Piet Rinke and was caught at firstslip for 26, reducing Midlands to 279 for five. Realistically, Midlands’main hope of avoiding the follow-on lay with Viljoen, who was approachinghis second career century with great caution. He was most unlucky to missit; he was struck on the thigh by a ball from Norman Mukondiwa, whichbounced above his head, causing him to duck, only for the ball to hit hisbody and rebound on to the stumps. He had made 95, and Midlands’ hopes ofavoiding the follow-on, if it were enforced, looked bleak.In his next over Mukondiwa missed quite a simple return catch from ColinDelport (then 14), who tried to pull a ball and lobbed back a chance justabove head-height off the toe of his bat. Then came another incident thatis symptomatic of the growing spirit of anarchy in Zimbabwe cricket thattends to be treated with kid gloves by the authorities. David Mutendera(17), attempting a hook off Mukondiwa, was given out caught at the wicket,but for a long time refused to leave the crease, standing there with hishead down for the best part of a minute before finally crawling off with thenext batsman halfway to the pitch. There have been several controversialumpiring decisions given in this match, but players are getting away withbehaviour that would be totally unacceptable in a Test match.In the next over Delport (21) was yorked by Rinke, in whose next over IanCoulson was caught at the wicket, which reduced Midlands to 344 for nine. Abrief final flurry ended with Sherezad Shah caught in the slips off Rinke,and Midlands were all out for 358. Rinke, who generally bowled wellalthough at times putting the ball well wide of the stumps, finished withfive for 56.Matabeleland duly enforced the follow-on, and Midlands were soon strugglingagain after lunch. Piet Rinke made another strike to have opener VusiSibanda caught in the gully off a lifting delivery without scoring. ThenTerry Duffin settled into a steady partnership with Luther Mutyambizi,putting on 49 before the latter (18) drove a return catch to Gavin Ewing.Duffin, normally quite a solid batsman, surprised with a magnificent sixover long-off off Ewing, but the bowler struck back, trapping him lbw for39. This brought together Dirk Viljoen and Alester Maregwede, the topscorers of the first innings, but they were not to enjoy a repeatperformance.Three wickets fell in the fifteen minutes before tea as Midlands apparentlyvoted in favour of a free Monday. Maregwede scored 26 confident runs beforeplaying back perhaps rather casually to Ewing and finding the ballrebounding on to his stumps, not long before tea. Viljoen quickly followedfor 16, caught possibly off the back of his bat in the gully as he tried tosweep Barney Rogers, and finally Campbell (4) drove a tame return catch toEwing on the stroke of tea.The trend continued, with apparently not even pride to play for on the partsof some batsmen. Mutendera was bowled behind his legs for 4, while Delport(6) chipped a catch to midwicket. Sherezad Shah showed more determination,playing some classy strokes, and Anthony Ireland wanted to make the most ofhis debut innings, hitting Ewing for a six over long-off in the process. Itwas an entertaining last-wicket stand that ended as Ireland holed out tolong-off attempting another six. Shah was left unbeaten with 14 and Ewingwas the main beneficiary of the batsmen’s generosity, taking seven wickets.He had eight in the match to add to his double-century. The total was aless than glorious 163.It was a pleasant afternoon’s cricket at the Kwekwe Sports Club, with asmall but friendly crowd giving a good family atmosphere, sitting in theshade of the trees outside the clubhouse as the wind dropped and the weatherbecame hot again in the sun. Support for the home side was obvious and asthey slumped there was disappointment, but no rancour, as it was not allowedto spoil a pleasant afternoon.Play on the field improved as well, as the umpires had strong words with thefielding captain and certain players during the lunch interval, withover-appealing being another serious issue. Umpire Ahmed Esat also saidthat certain incidents would be reported to the appropriate authorities forfurther action. We shall see if they will take decisive action this time.