Midlands hand Matabeleland their second Logan Cup defeat in a row

Midlands handed Matabeleland their second Logan Cup defeat in a row when they beat them by nine wickets with a day to spare.

Midlands scored 54 for one to win the match on the third day, after Matabeleland were all out for 213 in 88.3 overs, setting the visitors an easy target. A brilliant performance by the Matabeleland tail saw the home side avoiding an innings defeat but that was not enough to prevent the visitors from romping to an easy victory.

The home side resumed at 80 for five overnight and it seemed they would slump to an innings defeat as they lost two early wickets in the first few overs of the day. First to leave the field of play was vice-captain Ryan King, who departed for 28 runs when he was bowled by Campbell Macmillan, adding only nine runs to his overnight score of 19.

Matabeleland's hopes of a draw were dashed when Warren Gilmour was dismissed leg before wicket by John-Vaughan Davies for two runs. Gavin Ewing could not find the form that saw him score 106 not out in the match against Mashonaland as he put only 12 runs on the board before he pulled weakly at a Davies delivery and saw Paul Reilly take a brilliant catch at mid-wicket.

Captain Colin Williams joined his son Mike McKillop and the two lifted Matabeleland's innings, putting up 50 for the ninth wicket. When the captain came in the score was at 134 and he took it to 184 before departing the field of play. National team bowler Sean Ervine, surprisingly bowling spin due to a back injury, claimed the wicket of Williams when he dismissed him leg before wicket for 27.

McKillop and tail-ender Tawanda Mupariwa put on 29 for the last wicket before McKillop was dismissed by Vaughan-Davies, caught by Craig Grant to end his magnificent run that saw him smash eight fours on his way to scoring 69. Mupariwa was left unbeaten on 16.

Vaughan-Davies once again the toast of the Midlands bowlers, grabbing four for 21 in his 15.3-over spell with nine maidens. Captain Dirk Viljoen and Macmillan took two wickets each while James Kornford and Ervine took a wicket apiece.

Midlands only lost one man and took 10.4 overs to seal the match a few hours after lunch. They lost opener Luther Mutyambizi when Mupariwa bowled him for nine to grab his only wicket in first class-cricket. Craig Grant finished the match in dramatic fashion, smashing a four through gully to end on 12, an innings which consisted of three fours. Terry Duffin was also unbeaten on 25 with four fours.