Double Headers

126 - shows just how great was the margin between that province and many of its rivals, even when Mashonaland’s strength was split two or even three ways. Some memorabilia relating to double-header matches in Zimbabwe: •There were no double-headers in the Logan Cup 1998/99. Mashonaland and Mashonaland A were due to meet at the Sunrise Sports Club in Harare on 12-13-14 January 1999, but the match was rained off. •A week later, rain also ruined the prospects for the only scheduled double-header in Zimbabwe that would have involved a game outside the Logan Cup. Mashonaland A were due to play their Cup match against Matabeleland at Bulawayo on 19-20-21 January, while Mashonaland were due to meet England A in a first-class match at the Old Hararians ground in Harare on 20-21-22-23 January. The weather in Bulawayo created no insuperable problems (Matabeleland won their match by 7 wickets), but unfortunately rain in Harare meant that the game there had to be abandoned without a ball bowled. •In first-class matches between sides from within Mashonaland, the results stand like this: Mashonaland have beaten Mashonaland A three times in three meetings; Mashonaland have played MCD three times, with each side winning one match and one match drawn; Mashonaland have won two, and lost one, of their three matches against Young Mashonaland or the Under-24s; while the three matches between MCD and Young Mashonaland or the Under-24s have ended with one victory for each side, and one match drawn. Mashonaland A have never met either MCD or the Young/Under-24 side. Some ‘achievements’ from the double-header matches that were played: •Mashonaland Country Districts’ wicket-keeper D.J.R. (Donald) Campbell took seven catches in Matabeleland’s first innings in their game at Bulawayo in 1994/95. •A couple of weeks later, Campbell’s brother Alistair – a fine batsman, but with no great reputation as a bowler - returned innings bowling figures of 2.3-2-0-3 for MCD against Mashonaland. •In the match between Mashonaland and Mashonaland A in April 2002, Grant Flower scored 235* for the ‘A’ team, but was upstaged by his brother Andy who made 114 and 156* for the senior team – the latter innings taking Mashonaland to a fourth-innings score of 340-3 and a seven-wicket victory. From 2002/03 to 2004/05, Mashonaland was once again represented in the Logan Cup by just a single side, which not unexpectedly won the cup in all three seasons. There was no competition in 2005/06, and in 2006/07 the five provincial sides 100 were renamed by reference to compass points, becoming Northerns (formerly Mashonaland), Southerns (formerly Masvingo), Easterns (formerly Manicaland), Westerns (formerly Matabeleland) and Centrals (formerly Midlands). This arrangement also 100 Manicaland and Midlands had rejoined the competition in 1999/2000, and a side from the province of Masvingo joined in 2006/07 - they would have played in 2005/06 but the competition was put into abeyance for that year. Zimbabwe - Late starters