Zimbabwe's tour opener

[Donny]

Zimbabwe struggle in tour opener
Wisden CricInfo staff - September 28, 2003

Sean Ervine saved his side's blushes with a belligerent 41 and two early wickets, but Zimbabwe were made to struggle on the opening day of their tour match against the grade cricketers of Rockingham-Mandurah, whose ranks had been swelled by the presence of seven Western Australia state players.

Andy Blignaut was the only major omission from a virtually full-strength team, but in gale-force winds and on a lively wicket, Zimbabwe were quickly reduced to 36 for 4, then 85 for 7 as the new-ball bowlers Darren Wates (4 for 22) and Tim Gilbert (3 for 35) exploited the conditions to perfection. But Ervine came in at No. 8 and with determined support from Ray Price, he pushed the total along to a moderately competitive 149.

The absence of Grant Flower, who broke his right thumb in a Logan Cup match last month, was keenly felt by the Zimbabweans. Without his experience, there is nobody in the touring squad who averages more than 28 in Tests, and their batsmen have managed just two Test centuries between them – both against Bangladesh. The first Test begins at the WACA in Perth on Thursday week, and on this evidence it is unlikely to be much of a contest.

The day did end on a brighter note for the Zimbabweans. Doug Hondo, who is playing in this match purely as a bowler, dismissed Rockingham-Mandurah's captain Craig Simmons for a duck, before Ervine chipped in with two timely wickets, including Scott Meuleman for 29. Heath Streak, Zimbabwe's captain and main source of experience for the Tests, was wicketless in his eight overs.

Rockingham-Mandurah Craig Simmons (capt), Tim Gilbert, Steven Glew, Aaron Heal, Scott Meuleman, Luke Ronchi, Phillip Scott, John Taylor, Adam Voges, Darren Wates, Corey Whisson.

Zimbabwe Heath Streak (capt), Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Trevor Gripper, Douglas Hondo, Raymond Price, Mark Vermeulen, Craig Wishart.

[Donny]

Ervine takes five as wickets tumble on both sides
Wisden CricInfo staff - September 29, 2003


An efficient bowling display from Zimbabwe, led by Sean Ervine, against Rockingham-Mandurah was overshadowed by another batting collapse and the news that Douglas Hondo is a serious doubt for the opening Test next Thursday at Perth.

Hondo, Zimbabwe's third-choice seamer behind Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut, strained his thumb yesterday and was unable to bowl at all today. However, Ervine did his chances no harm by kick-starting Zimbabwe's fightback with five wickets against the Rockingham-Mandurah team, who were bolstered by four fringe Western Australian players.

Ervine, who smashed 41 in Zimbabwe's first innings, grabbed 5 for 38 from 15 overs as Rockingham-Mandurah capitulated to 123 in front of a crowd of about 200 at Settlers Hill. Luke Ronchi saved his side from even more blushes with an entertaining 44 on the bowler-friendly pitch, but he was one of only three batsmen to make double figures.

With a slender lead of 26, Zimbabwe's fragile batting line-up was again exposed in their second innings as they slumped to 107 for 6 at the close. Craig Wishart (32*) ensured they still had some sort of advantage - a lead of 133 runs, but with only four wickets left and Hondo unable to bat.

[Donny]

Century for Wishart as Zimbabwe finish strongly
Wisden CricInfo staff - September 30, 2003

Craig Wishart completed a boundary-laden century and Sean Ervine enjoyed his third impressive performance of the match, to ensure that Zimbabwe finished the stronger in a testing first encounter of their Australian tour, against the grade cricketers of Rockingham-Mandurah.

Zimbabwe had resumed their second innings on a ropey 107 for 6, a modest lead of 133. But Wishart, 32 not out overnight, found a solid ally in Ervine, and between them they added 136 for the seventh wicket to push Rockingham-Mandurah onto the defensive. Wishart's innings was distinctly two-paced. Although he hung around for 235 balls, his innings included 11 fours and six sixes.

Ervine's contribution was a tenacious 51, including five fours and a six, and it was something of a surprise that he was overlooked for the man of the match award after his 41 and 5 for 37 in the first two innings of the match. Instead, that honour was shared by Wishart and Rockingham-Mandurah's Luke Ronchi, who smacked his second brisk 40-odd of the match to ensure the draw.

After being set an improbable target of 282, Ronchi came to the crease with Zimbabwe on something of a roll. Ervine was once again in the thick of things, dismissing Scott Meuleman early on and Craig Simmons for 35. But it was the left-arm spin of Ray Price that really put the skids under Rockingham-Mandurah. He finished with 4 for 55 including the dismissals of Steven Glew and Adam Voges in quick succession. But from 71 for 4, Ronchi's run-a-ball 47 stalled Zimbabwe's momentum and saved the match.