Chronicle EditorBrandon Moyo, [email protected]
A DIFFICULT challenge lies ahead for Zimbabwe A in their bid to salvage something from the second three-day game against the visiting Durham County Cricket Club which comes to an end today at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare.
Zimbabwe A — trailing the two match three-day series 1-0 — will have to bat for their lives on the last day to avoid a series whitewash. The hosts will have to bat out the whole day to salvage a draw, and they resume day three with nine wickets in hand.
Yesterday’s play started with Zimbabwe A batting in the first innings following Durham County’s declaration at the end of the first day.
The visitors had declared their first innings on 193/8 in 58 overs before going on to bundle out the hosts for just 116 runs in 40.2 overs. In the second innings, Durham would declare again on 192/8 in 35,1 overs, leaving Zimbabwe A with a huge target of 270 runs for victory.
At the end of yesterday’s play, Zimbabwe A were on 10/1. At stumps on day two, Zimbabwe A had lost the wicket of Tanunurwa Makoni for a nine-ball duck and find themselves needing 260 runs to win. Nkosana Mpofu and his Tuskers teammate, Aliakbar Hamid were out in the middle. The duo finished the day on five runs apiece off 22 and 23 balls respectively.
Earlier in the day, it was the skipper Ainsley Ndlovu and Victor Nyauchi who had to come to Zimbabwe A’s rescue with the bat, helping their team breach the 100 run mark. Ndlovu, batting at number eight top scored with 35 runs off 40 balls while Nyauchi made 21 runs from 43 balls.
None of Zimbabwe A’s top five batters managed to score more than five runs in the first innings.
Paul Coughlin and Oliver Gibson took three scalps apiece for Durham.
After the disastrous batting display in the, a lot of pressure fell on the bowlers to try and restrict Durham in their second innings.
It was Michael Chinouya who led from the front with ball in hand, taking three wickets for 65 runs in 9,1 overs while Ndlovu – continued with his brilliant showing, finishing with figures of 2/45 in eight overs. Takudzwa Chataira also claimed two scalps for figures of 2/33 in his eight over spell.
Ben McKinney top scored for Durham County in the second innings with 52 runs off 49 balls while Colin Ackermann also fell soon after reaching his half century on 51 runs off 53 deliveries.
Makoni – who was the only Zimbabwe A wicket that had fell at stumps of day two – was bowled by Oliver
Victory now lloks impossible for the hosts and the best result they can get is a draw – if they bat out day three. It will be a tricky test for Zimbabwe A batters who have been struggling with the bat throughout the series, with the lower order coming to the rescue on most occasions. – @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter