da dobrowin： Universals fast bowler David Mutendera took 8/23 in an awesomespell of new-ball bowling to destroy Harare Sports Club as hisside romped to a 132-run victory with 31.5 overs to spare in theCastle Lager National First League
Clive Ruffell17-Dec-2000Universals fast bowler David Mutendera took 8/23 in an awesomespell of new-ball bowling to destroy Harare Sports Club as hisside romped to a 132-run victory with 31.5 overs to spare in theCastle Lager National First League. Harare Sports Club weredismissed for 64 runs in just 18.1 overs with only Extras and GuyCroxford managing to reach double figures. Mutendera could havereturned even better figures had he not conceded six no-balls and2 wides. Earlier Universals had scored 196/9 in their allotted50 overs, thanks largely to Everton Matambanadzo who scored asecond consecutive 50, and the HSC bowlers who sent down a totalof 28 wides. Gavin Johnston-Robertson, now 54 years of age,turned in his best performance of the season in taking 4/23 withhis gentle off-spinners.The target of 197 appeared modest, despite the bowler-friendlyconditions, but Mutendera bowled with pace and aggression,bowling four of his eight victims, and taking two return catchesto wipe out any possible challenge. It was a fine win forUniversals who recorded their fourth win in five matches in thenational league, but for HSC it was their third defeat and theirtitle hopes now appear slim.At Alexandra Sports Club, the in-form Old Georgians sidemaintained their unbeaten record in the league this season with afine win over the powerful Alexandra side, thanks to all roundperformances from captain Gus Mackay and Craig Evans. Mackaywhipped out the top three Alex batsmen to have the home side inearly trouble, but solid batting from the middle order saw Alexrecover to score a very respectable 259/9 in their 50 overs.Mackay with 4/37 and Evans with 3/37 were the most successfulbowlers.Lance Malloch-Brown and Andre Neethling started the Alex replyconfidently, but when Gary du Plessis dismissed Neethling for 14and Craig Wishart for a single, Alex were on the back foot.Evans and Mackay had other ideas, however, and Mackay scored hisfirst century of the season to guide his side to victory by sixwickets.OGs are emerging as the side to beat, having lost just one matchin the national league and Vigne Cup this season, thanks largelyto the consistent efforts of Mackay and Evans.In Mutare, the home side recorded their first win of the seasonwith an emphatic 176-run win over a depleted Winstonians side.Neil Ferreira scored his first century of the season with ameasured 118 not out, sharing in a century partnership withcaptain Mark Burmester who crunched a typically aggressive 75runs, boosting Mutare to a formidable 284/4.Winstonians, again without star players Hamilton Masakadza,Stewart Matsikenyere and Tatenda Taibu, were never likely toreach the target of 285, and indeed never came close, succumbingmeekly to 108 all out in 39 overs. Burmester completed a fineall-round performance with 3/12 and Jason Young grabbed 4/17.The loss was Winstonians’ fifth successive defeat in the nationalleague this season and they will need to lift their gamedramatically if they are to avoid earning the wooden spoon again.In Bulawayo the struggling Mac Club hosted Kwekwe Sports Club ina bottom of the table clash, neither side having won a match thisseason. Kwekwe, promoted to the first league at the beginning ofseason, have benefited from the allocation of national academyplayers John Vaughan-Davies and Douglas Hondo, but their leadingperformances have come from the irrepressible Dave Houghton, nowcaptaining the side, and this match was no exception. Batting atnumber four, Houghton showed his younger team-mates a thing ortwo with 97 runs, the highest score by more than 60 runs, asKwekwe finished on 209 all out, Bryant taking five for 25.Mac Club started their reply in solid fashion and several topand middle-order batsmen made valuable contributions. Butwickets fell regularly, Mac Club fell behind the required runrate and the tight Kwekwe bowling earned the visitors a ten-runvictory. Houghton was again in the thick of the action, takingtwo top-order wickets with his gentle dibbly-dobblers. DouglasHondo was in better form than of late, conceding 32 runs off his10 overs and picking up two wickets. None of the Kwekwe bowlersconceded more than four runs per over and only six wides werebowled in 50 overs, something of an achievement for Zimbabweanbowlers.The fifth scheduled match between Queens Sports Club and OldHararians was called off due to wet playing conditions.Next weekend sees the last national league matches before athree-week end-of-year break. Old Hararians travel to Mutare inwhat could be a close encounter. Alexandra travel to Bulawayo toplay Queens and Alex will be looking to regain their winninghabits. Old Georgians host Harare Sports Club and, provided therain stays away, we should see another win for the Groombridgeside. Kwekwe will have their work cut out against the rampantUniversals and Mac Club host Winstonians in a match that willprobably determine the wooden spoon.