da fazobetai： Mashonaland completed a 229-run victory over Midlands shortly after tea intheir final match of the 2002/03 season
John Ward27-Apr-2003Mashonaland completed a 229-run victory over Midlands shortly after tea intheir final match of the 2002/03 season. Fifties by Terry Duffin and SeanErvine, and four wickets by off-spinner Trevor Gripper, were the highlightsof the third day’s play, with the fourth day not required.Mashonaland batted on with their overnight lead of 373, with Brian Murphyand Douglas Hondo showing much more application against an all-spin attackthan their seniors had the previous evening. They were not satisfied with alead of 400, as their coach had speculated, but continued to pile on theagony, with Murphy applying himself to reach his second fifty of the matchand Hondo his maiden first-class fifty.The fielders showed increasing annoyance as the accumulation steadilyincreased and the bowlers proved ineffective, with even left-arm spinnerRaymond Price getting no satisfaction from bowling over the wicket into therough. After reaching their fifties, though, Murphy increased the tempo,and a six into the white brick sightscreen rebounded almost back to bowlerIan Coulson. Then came the declaration at morning drinks, setting Midlandsa target of 457.Vusi Sibanda failed again, scoring only a single, but he was the victim of abrilliant catch. Waddington Mwayenga at mid-off launched himselffull-length to his right to hold on to a lofted off-drive that lookedcertain to beat the field. Then Douglas Marillier, after pulling a superbboundary off Amos Maungwa, in the same over mistimed an attempted hit overthe covers and Prosper Utseya took a good running catch running back.Midlands were 8 for two.Craig Wishart played an attacking innings while Terry Duffin dug in deep,but at 34 Wishart fell to another of the controversial decisions that haveannoyed the Midlands players in this match, given out caught at bat-pad for19. Just before lunch Duffin awoke to hit three fours in an over fromMaungwa, two of them involuntary edges, which caused the bowler to reactverbally and the umpires rightly stepped in. It was good to see themreacting decisively by speaking firmly to bowler and captain on the field,and the matter will be referred to the disciplinary committee.After the interval Duffin decided to play his shots, hitting powerfully buttaking risks as he did so. Sean Ervine in contrast was uncharacteristicallyreticent, but when he had 8 he slashed a ball into the covers where StuartCarlisle dived for it, but sportingly admitted he was uncertain whether theball had touched the ground or not.Play continued to a volley of farmyard noises from the Mashonaland fielders,who tried to give the impression that virtually every ball was a narrowescape or a well-deserved wicket turned down by unjust umpires. At least 50catches went down – or so it appeared, judging by the unrewarded shouts of”Catch!” emitted every two to three minutes whenever a batsman hit a ball inthe air for more than a couple of metres.Despite this cacophony, Duffin and Ervine enjoyed a fluent centurypartnership before Ervine chose to celebrate his fifty by hitting a balldown the throat of mid-off, departing for 52. Duffin soon followed, ratherunusually: he drove Prosper Utseya uppishly into the covers, where Carlisledropped a low chance – a genuine one this time – but Duffin had set off downthe pitch for a run without looking properly, Viljoen did not respond, andthe batsman slipped as he tried to regain his crease, only to be run out for71.Alester Maregwede soon followed, calling for a quick but probably safesingle to mid-off who was a little deep; Viljoen responded in the negativeimmediately, but Maregwede ignored the call and was run out by the fulllength of the pitch. Midlands were definitely contributing to their owndownfall, although Murphy seemed to be helping them with an incrediblestring of no-balls, 18 in total, and at tea the end was in sight.The last three wickets did not last too long, Gripper taking all three tofinish with a haul of nine in the match. Thus ended a disappointing seasonfor Midlands, who had finished second to Mashonaland the previous season andhad plenty of talent, but had unaccountably failed to make the most of it.Mashonaland were confirmed as Logan Cup champions for the fourth year insuccession.