During the December holidays, the national Under-19 team toured South Africa to play three three-day matches against South African age-group teams and to participate in the Coca-Cola Week. The results of the three-day matches were: Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 1.

The first match against Northerns was played at the CFX Academy ground in Harare from 1 to 3 December. Northerns won the toss and elected to bat. The first day was affected by rain, and when play was finally abandoned for the day the game was evenly poised with their score on 162 for five after 55 overs. Northerns were eventually all out for 257.

In our first innings we lost several early wickets, but later managed to restore some stability until rain again stopped play for the day with our score at 158 for six, at which point we declared.

Northerns started their second innings on the morning of the third day, finally declaring just after lunch at 202 for four, leaving us to score 302 in a maximum of 69 overs. However, after just ten overs heavy rain brought the game to an end. The scores were as follows:

NORTHERNS 257 (C McMillan 3/72, J Nicolle 2/62) and 202/4 dec (S Wright 2/41)
ZIMBABWE 158/6 dec and 16/0. Match drawn.

The second three-day game was played against Natal A at the Pietermaritzburg Oval from 8 to 10 December.

Natal won the toss and asked us to bat. Zimbabwe got off to a very good start with the first wicket falling at 140. Eventually rain and bad light brought an end to the day's play with our score at 286 for four, at which point Zimbabwe declared.

In Natal's innings, delayed at the start because of overnight rain, we were able to capture five wickets relatively cheaply, but they eventually declared at 270 for five after an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 107.

Zimbabwe lost an early wicket in their second innings before play was stopped because of bad light. On the third day wickets again fell regularly and cheaply, leaving us all out at 124 runs with only Terrence Duffin providing any real resistance.

Natal was able to score the 141 runs necessary to win, losing only two wickets in the process. Scores:

ZIMBABWE 286/4 dec (T Duffin 89, C Coventry 77, T Taibu 66) and 124.
NATAL 270/5 dec and 143/2. Natal won by eight wickets.

The third three-day game was played against Easterns at Bulawayo Athletic Club from 5 to 7 January.

Easterns won the toss and elected to bat. In the first session four wickets fell, but after lunch runs came more easily until eventually Easterns were all out for 341 in just short of 100 overs.

Zimbabwe also got off to a poor start, losing tow wickets in the remaining overs allowed on the first day. On day two, again two wickets fell early on, leaving the score at 57 for four before Hamilton Masakadza and Barney Rogers both batted sensibly. Eventually Zimbabwe were all out for 354.

In their second innings Easterns again lost some early wickets, being eventually all out for 271 after lunch on the third day. Zimbabwe were thus set a target of 259 runs to get in 52 overs. Gavin Thorn and Charles Coventry both batted very well and set a good foundation for the later batsmen. Hamilton Masakadza batted well, being undefeated with 54 at the end. In the last over we required five runs to win and these came with just three balls to spare. The scores were:

EASTERNS 341 (C McMillan 4/37, B Rogers 2/91) and 271 (S Matsikenyeri 2/28, J Nicolle 2/35).
ZIMBABWE 354 (H Masakadza 107*, B Rogers 69, J Nicolle 44) and 267/6 (C Coventry 67, G Thorn 58, H Masakadza 54*). Zimbabwe won by four wickets.

COCA-COLA WEEK

This festival was held in Bloemfontein from 16 to 21 December. Six limited-over games were played in the six days, with Zimbabwe winning three and losing three.

1: v KWAZULU NATAL A

Natal won the toss and decided to bat. Sean Ervine bowled well, taking three for 18, as did Jordace Nicolle with figures of two for 27. Natal were all out for 174 runs in 48 overs.

The Zimbabwe batsmen batted sensibly, Tatenda Taibu top-scoring with 41, while Dean Goosen made 39. The latter part of our innings was affected by rain, but fortunately we were able to play after the rain and eventually won an evenly matched game. Scores:

KWAZULU NATAL 174 (48 overs) (S Ervine 3/18, J Nicolle 2/27, H Masakadza 2/23). ZIMBABWE 175/7 (44.4 overs) (T Taibu 41, D Goosen 39, S Ervine 30). Zimbabwe won by three wickets.

2: v BORDER

Zimbabwe lost the toss and were asked to bat on a wicket that was soft underneath. Zimbabwe batted poorly, with nine batsmen falling to catches mainly behind the wicket. As the pitch eased after the first hour and a half, the batsmen found it easier to play, but by that time the damage had been done. Andrew Durham top-scored with 29 out of 113 all out.

Border found it very easy to score the runs, although Sean Ervine bowled very well with two for 28 in eight overs. Scores:

ZIMBABWE 113 (A Durham 29). BORDER 115/4 (S Ervine 2/28). Border won by six wickets.

3: v WESTERN PROVINCE A

Zimbabwe again lost the toss and Western Province decided to bat. Their opening partnerships put on over 100 runs, thus setting a good foundation for a reasonable score. Campbell McMillan bowled well in his ten overs with two for 51, but Andrew Durham surprised everybody by taking three wickets in the last over for just three runs.

In Zimbabwe's innings, Hamilton Masakadza opened with Terrence Duffin and he rose to the occasion, scoring a splendid 113 not out. He was ably assisted by Sean Ervine who scored a very patient 39. Eventually we passed their score with just four balls to spare. Scores:

WESTERN PROVINCE A 252 (50 overs) (A Durham 3/3, S Matsikenyeri 2/38). ZIMBABWE 253/6 (49.2 overs) (H Masakadza 113*, S Ervine 39, T Duffin 29). Zimbabwe won by four wickets.

4: v BOLAND

Boland won the toss and decided to bat. This may have been an unwise choice as they were all out relatively quickly for just 87 runs. Sean Ervine bowled exceptionally well with four wickets for seven runs while Campbell McMillan took three for 18.

Zimbabwe quickly scored the runs to finish the game just after lunch, losing only two wickets in the process. Scores:

BORDER 87 (S Ervine 4/7, C McMillan 3/18). Zimbabwe 91/2 (H Masakadza 42*, T Taibu 24). Zimbabwe won by eight wickets.

After the four preliminary games we were placed fifth out of ten teams, with 12 points, and had to play KwaZulu-Natal again in a play-off for fifth and sixth positions.

5: v KWAZULU NATAL

Natal won the toss and asked us to bat. In our innings the early batsmen struggled as the match gave their bowlers some assistance. At one stage Zimbabwe were 48 for five and then 100 for six, but it was fairly obvious that any total we could reach would not be enough. Barney Rogers batted very sensibly for his 70, aided by Andrew Stone with 27.

Natal showed how easy the pitch became after lunch as they passed our score after 38 overs. Scores:

ZIMBABWE 194 (46.2 overs) (B Rogers 70, A Stone 27). NATAL A 195/1. Natal won by nine wickets.

As a result of this last game we were placed sixth out of twelve teams.

6: v SOUTH AFRICAN COLTS XI

It was decided by the captains that the South African Colts XI would bat first. They had a reasonable opening partnership before losing their first wicket. The later batsmen scored with relative ease and set a final target of 293 runs. Andrew Stone and Campbell McMillan were the best bowlers with three for 43 and two for 43 respectively.

Our innings got off to a bad start with an early wicket, and although Barney Rogers batted very well for his 46 there was nobody who could stay and occupy the crease. Eventually we were all out in the 48th over, still a long way short of the target. Scores:

SA COLTS 292/9 (50 overs) (A Stone 3/43, C McMillan 2/43). ZIMBABWE 220 (48 overs) (B Rogers 46, C Coventry 32). South African Colts won by 72 runs.

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