The Midlands cricket season started off on a very positive note, with the Kwekwe first team winning both of their games, against Old Hararians first and Queens Sports Club teams respectively.

The first team this year has been strengthened greatly by a number of national, ex-national and Academy team players, namely Travis Friend, Dirk Viljoen, Terrence Duffin, Raymond Price, Douglas Marillier, John Vaughan-Davies, Campbell Macmillan and David Houghton, who is also the team's captain. Hopefully these experienced players will keep the Kwekwe Sports Club first team on its winning track.

The first game was played against Old Hararians at Kwekwe Sports Club. Unfortunately Old Hararians could only field nine players. Old Hararians batted first and were all out for a score of 107 runs in 24 overs, the top scorer being Nyasha Chari who scored 23 runs. Kwekwe used four (4) bowlers: Travis Friend (2/34), Campbell Macmillan (2/41), Doug Marillier (2/15) and John Vaughan-Davies (2/16).

Kwekwe Sports Club batted after lunch and scored 109 runs for the loss of three wickets in 27 overs. Top scorer was Dirk Viljoen who scored 38 runs. The best bowler for Old Hararians was Chari with two for 40 off five overs. Kwekwe Sports Club won by seven wickets.

The second game was played in Bulawayo at Queens Sports Club against Queens. Kwekwe Sports Club batted first and scored 240/8 in their allotted fifty overs. The highest scorer for Kwekwe Sports Club was Viljoen who scored 70 runs. The best bowler for Queens was Pommie Mbangwa whose figures were four for 30 in his allotted 10 overs.

Queens Sports Club then went into bat after lunch and were bowled out for 158 in 43 overs. Top scorer for Queens was Neil van Rensburg with 48 runs. Best bowler for Kwekwe was Colin Saunders with three for 30 in his allotted ten overs. Kwekwe Sports Club won by 82 runs.

On Sunday 28 October the second team of Kwekwe Sports Club hosted Old Hararians second team. Kwekwe Sports Club opened the batting and in their allotted fifty overs scored 376 runs for the loss of nine wickets, top scorers being Ken Connelly with 148 runs and P. Albasini with 100 runs not out. Old Hararians then went into bat after lunch and were bowled out for 138 runs, top scorer being A. Penny with 33 runs. Kwekwe Sports Club won by 238 runs.

Kwekwe Queens Sports Club travelled to Harare for both their games but unfortunately lost both matches. Details of these results are not to hand at the time of writing.

I hope to be able to bring you news from Gweru Club Cricket Section regarding their games in next week's report.

The professional cricketers who reside at the Kwekwe Centre of Excellence have been undertaking coaching clinics both in Kwekwe and Gweru and the results to date are very promising for the future of cricket in the Midlands Province. Hopefully coaching will also be carried out at all the local schools, those in Gweru as well.

A very successful Double Wicket Tournament was held at Goldridge Primary School on Saturday 27 October, with some excellent bowling and batting being shown by all the school participants.

The winners' plate was won by Goldridge `A' after a very close final between themselves and Chedonje `A' from Kadoma. The losers' plate event was won by Sir John Kennedy `B'.

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