da 888： Namibia’s triumphant run of success in Zimbabwe came to a sudden end as they went down to an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Manicaland in the Faithwear Series at the Country Club
John Ward01-Sep-2005
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Jan-Berrie Burger: his absence proved costly for Namibia© Getty Images
Namibia’s triumphant run of success in Zimbabwe came to a sudden end as they went down to an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Manicaland in the Faithwear Series at the Country Club. Three superb individual performances brought Manicaland a well-earned victory, although they were assisted by the significant absence of Jan-Berrie Burger from the Namibian team; he sustained an ankle injury against Zimbabwe A two days earlier.Namibia batted first but lacked their usual impetus at the start of their innings. Ryan Bennett turned in a superb spell of accurate and thoughtful fast-medium bowling to neutralise their middle order, taking four wickets for 26 runs in his ten overs. Namibia totalled 198 for 8 in their 50 overs.Manicaland began unimpressively, losing two wickets for 20. But their debutant opener Colin de Grandhomme, a former Under-19 player and son of the former national player Laurence, batted with remarkable skill and maturity to score 96 not out, aided by an equally fine unbeaten 80 from Stuart Matsikenyeri, who was dropped down the order after a run of poor form. They took Manicaland to victory without further loss.
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Mashonaland turned in their poorest performance for many a long year as theywent down by six wickets to Midlands in the Faithwear Series match atTakashinga Cricket Club in Highfield, Harare. The match was over beforelunch as Mashonaland, who have won every provincial title for five seasonsand still have the strongest team on paper, went down to their secondsuccessive defeat in the one-day competition.At 55 for 3, with Tatenda Taibu on 16, there was no hint of the disasters tocome, but the last seven wickets could manage only eight runs. The mainbeneficiary of rank bad batting was Ian Nicolson, quick but erratic, andperhaps flattered by his figures of 5 for 28. He was backed by InnocentChinyoka (3 for 9) and Amos Maungwa (2 for 17). Top scorer was Extras withan imposing 24.Douglas Hondo struck back for Mashonaland, dismissing both Midlands openerswith just a single on the board, but Craig Ervine, with an aggressive 26,and Vusi Sibanda (24 not out) took Midlands home to a victory that must haveastonished them.