Mashonaland win by 229 runs in Kwekwe

Mashonaland completed a 229-run victory over Midlands shortly after tea in their final match of the 2002/03 season. Fifties by Terry Duffin and Sean Ervine, and four wickets by off-spinner Trevor Gripper, were the highlights of the third day's play, with the fourth day not required.

Mashonaland batted on with their overnight lead of 373, with Brian Murphy and Douglas Hondo showing much more application against an all-spin attack than their seniors had the previous evening. They were not satisfied with a lead of 400, as their coach had speculated, but continued to pile on the agony, with Murphy applying himself to reach his second fifty of the match and Hondo his maiden first-class fifty.

The fielders showed increasing annoyance as the accumulation steadily increased and the bowlers proved ineffective, with even left-arm spinner Raymond Price getting no satisfaction from bowling over the wicket into the rough. After reaching their fifties, though, Murphy increased the tempo, and a six into the white brick sightscreen rebounded almost back to bowler Ian Coulson. Then came the declaration at morning drinks, setting Midlands a target of 457.

Vusi Sibanda failed again, scoring only a single, but he was the victim of a brilliant catch. Waddington Mwayenga at mid-off launched himself full-length to his right to hold on to a lofted off-drive that looked certain to beat the field. Then Douglas Marillier, after pulling a superb boundary off Amos Maungwa, in the same over mistimed an attempted hit over the 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 have annoyed the Midlands players in this match, given out caught at bat-pad for 19. Just before lunch Duffin awoke to hit three fours in an over from Maungwa, two of them involuntary edges, which caused the bowler to react verbally and the umpires rightly stepped in. It was good to see them reacting 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 but taking risks as he did so. Sean Ervine in contrast was uncharacteristically reticent, but when he had 8 he slashed a ball into the covers where Stuart Carlisle dived for it, but sportingly admitted he was uncertain whether the ball 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 narrow escape or a well-deserved wicket turned down by unjust umpires. At least 50 catches 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 in the air for more than a couple of metres.

Despite this cacophony, Duffin and Ervine enjoyed a fluent century partnership before Ervine chose to celebrate his fifty by hitting a ball down the throat of mid-off, departing for 52. Duffin soon followed, rather unusually: he drove Prosper Utseya uppishly into the covers, where Carlisle dropped a low chance - a genuine one this time - but Duffin had set off down the pitch for a run without looking properly, Viljoen did not respond, and the batsman slipped as he tried to regain his crease, only to be run out for 71.

Alester Maregwede soon followed, calling for a quick but probably safe single to mid-off who was a little deep; Viljoen responded in the negative immediately, but Maregwede ignored the call and was run out by the full length of the pitch. Midlands were definitely contributing to their own downfall, although Murphy seemed to be helping them with an incredible string 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 to finish with a haul of nine in the match. Thus ended a disappointing season for Midlands, who had finished second to Mashonaland the previous season and had plenty of talent, but had unaccountably failed to make the most of it. Mashonaland were confirmed as Logan Cup champions for the fourth year in succession.