Masakadzas Century Salvages Mountaineers

A century of greatness by Hamilton Masakadza, the man the selectors rejected for the World Cup, dominated the day, as he fought almost a lone battle against the hungry Matabele attack, led by Keegan Meth who had already shattered the Mountaineers top order. But by the close Matabeleland Tuskers had fought back with the bat to leave the match well balanced, 72 runs ahead in their second innings with eight wickets in hand.

Mountaineers resumed their first innings on 56 for four wickets, all of which had fallen to Meth. But as long as Masakadza was still there, Matabeleland Tuskers could not claim an advantage. With Timycen Maruma as his partner, Masakadza held firm against the seam and swing of Meth, who bowled a further eight overs in the morning, conceding few runs but without taking a further wicket. The battle was tough and the atmosphere tense as the two sides battled for supremacy at this most crucial stage of the match. The batsmen cautiously added 20 runs in 40 minutes before Maruma unwisely padded up to a ball from Njabulo Ncube and was adjudged lbw for 7. Matabeleland Tuskers as usual were ridiculously noisy in the field, filling the air with their raucous farmyard noises, a ploy of gamesmanship unless it was simply a plan to keep the small band of spectators awake, or even drive them away.

Then came the largest partnership of the innings, as Prosper Utseya proved a positive and reliable partner for Masakadza, who was now opening up with some impressive pulls and drives. By lunch the score was a much more healthy 149 for six, but after the interval Utseya got rather too big for his boots. He hit a six over long-on off John Nyumbu, but then tried to sweep a straight ball from the same bowler and was clean bowled for 39. the pair had added 84 in exactly 20 overs.

Benjamin Katsande made 11 before skying a hook to deep fine leg, and then Shingi Masakadza joined his brother. Mountaineers took the lead on first innings with seven wickets down. With Hamilton now into the nineties, Meth came on again, but he had to be satisfied with the wicket of the younger brother, who edged to the keeper for 15. At the other end Hamilton reached three figures in the grand manner, hitting Chris Mpofu, one of Zimbabwes fastest bowlers, right over the scorebox at long-on for a huge six.

When Meth did get to bowl at Masakadza, he seemed to concede defeat immediately, putting his field back, dispensing with slips and bowling well outside off stump. Little good did it do him, as Masakadza hammered him for two fours and a six over long-on from successive deliveries. But at the other end Tendai Chatara gave his wicket away very weakly, and with the last man in Masakadza went for broke in Keegans next over. He drove at a full-length delivery and was bowled for 119, one of his greatest innings, given all the circumstances. He faced 206 deliveries and hit 16 fours and 4 sixes. His score was almost half of the total of 239, which gave his team a lead of 44.

Matabeleland Tuskers began their second innings quietly, but then Brad Staddon began to score freely off Chatara. The arrears were cleared off in the 15th over without loss of a wicket, and Mountaineers had lost their advantage. Staddon reached an enterprising 50 off 56 balls, but then tried to swing a ball from Utseya right across the line and was out lbw; the opening partnership with the dogged Mbeke Mabuza had put on 65. Charles Coventry came in and made a confident start, and things were looking ominous for Mountaineers when Shingi Masakadza came back and yorked Mabuza for 17 off 94 balls; 81 for two. After that Coventry and Steve Trenchard played safely for the close, leaving the match intriguingly poised.