Ferreira leads from the front in Alexandra

Manicaland were still batting at close of play on Day One as captain and opening batsman Neil Ferreira led from the front with a defiant 135 not out. The visitors were 247/8 in their first innings after 99 overs on a relatively slow match at Alexandra Sports Club.

Ferreira held the Manicaland innings together with a defiant knock, which lasted the entire day. He faced 307 balls in 390 minutes, smashing 13 sixes. The day began with the surprise inclusion of pace bowler Henry Olonga as the Mashonaland A captain. Olonga had been in India with the national as a commentator and he arrived in the country late Thursday while the rest of the squad arrived midday Friday.

Tired from the long flight back home, Olonga did not bowl until the 90th over.

With a heavy Alex outfield, the Manicaland batsmen were content with getting singles and at close of play there had only been 23 fours.

The biggest partnership of the day was 132 off 47.1 overs for the third wicket between Ferreira and former national team vice-captain Guy Whittall. Whittall departed for 53 off 138 balls as Manicaland had moved from 46/2 to 178/3.

Olonga's decision to introduce Gavin Rennie after lunch sparked a Manicaland middle-order collapse as the in-out national team player grabbed three consecutive wickets in five overs. Manicaland blooded two players Greg Sims, 23, and Michael John Robinson, 17.

Greg is young brother to all-rounder Richie and batted at number three where he made eight off 23 balls while Robinson was unbeaten on the same score off 24 balls having batted at number 10.