Remarkably, considering the amount of rain Harare has had over the past few days, the match between Mashonaland and the CFX Academy started on time, although in very damp and overcast conditions. The Academy won the toss and put Mashonaland in to bat.

Mashonaland began their innings slowly. According to captain Trevor Penney the pitch was slow and the outfield very slow and heavy, making run-scoring difficult.

Three times the players were driven off by rain before lunch, the third time by such a deluge that further play looked unlikely. The score was then 52 without loss after 19.4 overs, Gavin Rennie on 28 and Hamilton Masakadza 23. Neither batsman had been in much trouble as the bowling never looked threatening, but obviously quick scoring was scarcely possible.

Against all expectations, play restarted at 1.30. The Academy finally broke through at 65 when Rennie, cutting at Matthew Townshend, was caught low down in the gully by Keith Dabengwa. Inevitably, the next batch of rain arrived soon afterwards, sending the players off until tea. Twenty-seven overs had been bowled and Mashonaland were 69 for one (Masakadza 32, Trevor Madondo 2).

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