Manicaland traveled to Bulawayo last weekend to face Matabeleland for their second scheduled Logan Cup game of the season. The early-season hopes of fielding two of Zimbabwe's top players failed to materialize when Guy Whittall was forced into surgery for a groin injury, and Andy Flower was refused permission by his home province. Despite the fact that he wanted to play for Manicaland and that the Zimbabwe Cricket Union is trying to spread its top players around the country, the Mashonaland board insisted on its right of first call. The rules state that a player should turn out for the province in which he plays club cricket. Score 1 to the train spotters and nil to player power.

The first one-and-a-half days were lost to rain, a fact that ultimately destroyed any hope of a non-manufactured result. Manicaland were put in after lunch on Saturday and started brightly, with Neil Ferreira and Pat Gada making 40 for the first wicket. A middle-order collapse saw them struggling at 80 for four and finally declaring at 201/9, after a bonus-point-chasing thrash.

200 was Manicaland's first batting point target and an immediate declaration thereafter saw them bowl five overs at Matabeleland before stumps. Matabeleland were nearly at full strength with only Heath Streak being rested from their regular lineup. Mbangwa and Nkala bowled without great penetration but it was Board XI left-arm spinner Engelbrecht who caused the most problems.

There being limited time to achieve a result on Sunday, the captains engaged in some horse-trading before play commenced. The idea was for Matabeleland to bat for a short while, then allow Manicaland to set them a reasonable target and finally play real cricket in the afternoon run chase. The plan fell apart when Matabeleland lost early wickets, slowing the day's momentum as they searched for safety. They eventually declared at 122 for six whilst Manicaland slogged up 170 for nine in reply. Matabeleland initially gave the victory target a go, but saw out the day hanging on for survival at 90 for five. Although Manicaland had the better of the draw, they lost the bonus-point count five to four.

They also lost a measure of credibility as a professional unit when they arrived late at Harare Airport for their evening flight to Bulawayo for the start of the match. As a result they were forced to spend the night at a hotel in Harare. Only ten could find places on the morning flight, meaning that two had to drive down. This was despite the first-time appointment of the popular and affable Gary Knoll as traveling manager. Cricket sponsors were left scratching their heads about the costs of this misadventure and whether future managers would be more hands on, or also of the ceremonial nod-and-wink variety.

The fallout from the first, abandoned Logan Cup game three weeks ago is still being felt. Jason, the groundsman, resigned first thing Monday morning following the washout, as it was becoming obvious to him that the flak the position attracted was not commensurate with the job satisfaction. Approaches by the Manicaland president Kevan Barbour for him to reconsider were fruitless. This is a crisis, as these kinds of jobs are not filled through the "situations vacant" columns in Zimbabwe. It's time-consuming, requires mechanical aptitude, an ability to conjure up diesel from nowhere, take advice from an army of experts and, best of all, it's unpaid.

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