Mashonaland scrape through with a draw as Leicestershire end up 15 runs short
At the batting paradise that is the Harare Sports Club, Mashonaland managed to save their home crowd from witnessing another loss. After winning the toss, Mashonaland captain Saqlain Mushtaq made the no-brain choice of electing to bat first on a pitch that offered next to nothing for the bowlers.
This decision seemed to work for the Zimbabweans, despite losing Malik first ball. Vince Waragoda, fresh from his stunning 150 against Northern Districts, continued his fine form of late, combining with Mohammad Ul-Haq (77) to form a 161-run second-wicket partnership. George Eaton (51 off 86) combined Waragoda for a useful 82 runs until the opener was caught behind off Gallage, an agonising 3 runs short of a century. The next three batsmen all failed to capitalise on their starts, but ‘keeper Quentin Carver (76*) kept the batting hope alive for the home team, as he struggled to find a partner, with Gallage polishing off the last three batsmen to finish with six wickets. Mashonaland had made a decent 438 from 115 overs, but was it going to be enough against the Leicestershire line-up?
Brindell (28 off 26) got the visitors to a rapid start as he carted the openers Wasim Khan and Karim Sami around the park, before being trapped plumb in front. Kingsley stroked a magnificent 137, the highest score of the game, combining with Brown, McKenzie and the startling in-form Wilkes, all of whom made 40’s but didn’t carry on further. Underwood did, however, making a hard-earned 70 against the Mashonaland spinners who were somehow extracting some spin from the pitch. Manjrekar (50*), the Leicestershire keeper, also made a half century, but was left stranded by the tail-enders. Just like Mashonaland’s, Leicestershire’s innings was very much a team effort, with each batsman contributing to bring them 60 runs in front, with 498.
Needing to score some quick runs to avoid a draw, Malik again fell early trying to force the pace. Waragoda and Ul-Haq both scored 30’s, while Eaton was out for only 5, stumped while trying to heave Priyadarshana out the park. Burns hung on, though, and as good as solidified his spot in the Mashonaland middle-order with a brilliant 121 not out, helped at the other end by Arnold (49) and Burns (56*), the second re-selection for the home side. Captain Mushtaq declared the innings at 326 for 5, leaving Leicestershire needing 267 to win off 74 overs.
Brindell (60) and Brown (34) got the home team worried, combining with an 84 run opening partnership before Khan had Brown caught in the slips cordon. Kingsley, the batting hero from the first innings, failed to carry on his good form, whilst Wilkes, the author of a magnificent 226* against Jamaica in Round Two, fell for only five to the Zimbabwean spinners. McKenzie corrected his 48 from the first innings with 60 not out, and it was during his partnership with Underwood that the visitors started looking to be slightly behind the required run-rate. The pressure showed, with Underwood falling for 30, and the next two batsmen failing to do any real damage. Leicestershire finished with 252 for six, a mere 15 runs short of victory.
After the game, a noticeable relieved Mashonaland manager Andyc said, "I'm proud of my guys. Slightly disappointed, but proud all the same. After being told by the press that there "wasn't much point in turning up," I'm stoked for our boys to have come this far, especially against an undefeated team.". The microphone at the press conference also picked up Andyc mumbling under his breath that the press had in fact got all 3 predictions for this round wrong. This game has kept Andyc's undefeated four-day streak alive.
Mashonaland
438
Waragoda 97, Ul-Haq 77, Carver 76, Gallage 6/67
and
326/5 dec.
Burns 121*, Rogers 56*, Arnold 49
Leicestershire
498
Kingsley 137, Underwood 70, Manjrekar 50, Mushtaq 3/71
and
252/6
Brindell 60, McKenzie 60
)
