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Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE A found themselves in a spot of bother after they lost a wicket and found themselves trailing 368 runs during the opening day of their three-day match against Durham County at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The hosts lost their wicket of opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who was caught off the bowling of Matthew Potts for a golden duck during virtually the last ball of the day’s proceedings.
Zimbabwe reached stumps yet to score, with Ben Curran and Nick Welch at the crease, after Durham County had declared on 368 runs for eight.
Earlier on, Zimbabwe A skipper, Dion Meyers, had won the toss and decided to put in the visitors to bat.
England international Ollie Robinson and George Drissell led the Durham charge with identical scores of 81 runs off 89 and 81 balls, respectively, as the visiting batters made a meal of the Zimbabwean bowlers on their way to a healthy score and lead.
They were also handy contributions from the Durham top order as skipper Alex Lees chipped in with 41 runs off 41 balls, Will Rhodes made 48 runs off 94 balls, and, right at the tail, Matthew Potts finished with 34 runs off 34 balls.
On the flip side, Zimbabwe’s bowlers had a tough time on the pitch as wickets were far and in-between.
Victor Nyauchi was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers as he took three wickets for 44 runs, while Alex Falao and Vincent Masekesa chipped in with two scalps each.
Nyauchi was by far the stand-out as he gave Zimbabwe A hope early in the morning, uprooting three of the Durham’s top-order batters.
The 32-year-old Zimbabwe internationals rampage began as early as the second over of the match when he had Durham opener Emilio Gay trapped leg-before-wicket for his four runs off 12 balls.
Nyauchi then went on to account for Durham skipper Lees (41) and danger man Robinson (81). He had both Lees and Robinson caught behind by Nyasha Mayavo, accounting for two of the wicketkeeper’s five catches during the innings.
Play resumes this morning as Zimbabwe A hopes to erase the 368 deficit and build on a lead of their own.
Curran and Welch will start the day at the crease.
The two were yet to score a single run at stumps yesterday.
Online Reporter