Zim lose to Australia

Coca-Cola Triangular series at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
It was a bad start in office for new skipper Brendan Taylor who opened the innings with Vusi Sibanda (37) in the match but could not last long at the crease after falling first, for 17 runs, when he returned a catch to Luke Butterworth, with the hosts chasing a modest target of 233.
The Zimbabwe XI side had given a good account with a spirited fight in the field when they had restricted the tourists to 232/9 in 50 overs.
But the demons that affected the national team in the past seem to have returned to haunt them as they crashed to 142 all out with 11 overs remaining.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon was the destroyer-in-chief after sweeping past the batting line-up with four wickets for 22 runs in seven overs while John Hastings chipped in heavily with three wickets in the destruction of the lower order as Zimbabwe’s technique suddenly failed them after a slow but promising start.
Hamilton Masakadza, who was earlier involved in a 62-run partnership for the second wicket with Sibanda, acquitted himself with the bat as he persevered to a brave half century with 57 runs from the 87 deliveries he faced.
Taylor, however, was disappointed by the defeat.
“I think we started off with some decency but we lost a couple of wickets as the game wore on.
“We had a good performance with our bowlers and our fielding but our batting once again let us down.
“It’s unacceptable to be bowled out but I think it was a matter of technical faults, which we need to work on.
“We have to put this defeat behind us and try to concentrate on our next game,” said Taylor.
The Australians won the toss and suffered an early setback when both openers David Warner and Aaron Finch were removed by Chris Mpofu inside the first 11 overs for a paltry 33 runs.
Australia A’s innings looked vulnerable and they lost five wickets for 68 runs in their last 22 overs.
They had captain Tim Paine to thank for his unbeaten 37 runs from 40 balls, which all but held together the innings after a middle order collapse.
Earlier on, Troy Cooley’s men had found themselves two wickets down with 33 runs on the board when Finch was trapped lbw by Mpofu with the first ball of the 11th over.
The Matabeleland Tuskers paceman, who returned good figures of 3/31 in his 10-over spell, had made the breakthrough for Zimbabwe after dismissing Warner, caught by Prosper Utseya, for a single run in the third over.
But Australia’s 19-year old batsman Nic Maddinson teamed up with vice-captain Callum Ferguson (52) in a recovery operation for the third wicket.
The pair boosted the innings as they raised the scores from 33-2 to 133 with a good partnership of 98 runs.
Maddinson was Australia A’s top scorer with 63 runs but his progress came to a halt in the 28th over when he was stumped by wicket-keeper Regis Chakabva off the bowling of Prosper Utseya.
His innings included six boundaries and a six.
But Australia A lost five wickets for 68 runs with Keegan Meth, Chigumbura, Masakadza and Utseya all claiming a wicket each.
Mpofu got his third when he claimed the priceless wicket of Ferguson who was accelerating steadily with 52 runs to his credit from 67 deliveries.
In response, Zimbabwe XI openers Taylor and Sibanda had a very cautious approach as they seemed to struggle to contain the pace of Australian bowlers.
Nonetheless they did well to keep the scoreboard ticking before losing the captain in the eighthover.
The innings took a horrible twist when Regis Chakabva (0) and Craig Ervine (9) fell to Lyon’s spin in quick succession before Hastings’ four-ball destruction in the 33rd over sent former captain Elton Chigumbura (3), Forster Mutizwa (0) and Utseya (0) back to the pavilion and spell danger for the Zimbabweans at 122/7.
Zimbabwe are hoping to come back strong in their next game against South Africa A on Saturday.
But today Australia A will play South Africa A in their second match of the tournament.
Scoreboard
Australia A innings (50 overs maximum)
D. Warnerc Utseya b Mpofu1(10)
A.J Finchlbw b Mpofu21 (25)
N.J Maddinsonst †Chakabva b Utseya63 (81)
C. J Fergursonc †Chakabva b Mpofu52 (67)
MR Marshlbw b Meth23 (42)
NSJ O’Keeferun out (Sibanda/†Chakabva)2 (4)
TD Painnot out37 (40)
LR Butterworthlbw b Chigumbura3 (7)
JW Hastingsc Mpofu b Masakadza7 (12)
MA Starcnot out12 (12)
Extras(b 2, lb 4, w 5)11 Total(8 wickets; 50 overs; 215 mins)232 (4.64 runs per over)
Did not bat NM Lyon
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Warner, 2.5 ov), 2-33 (Finch, 10.1 ov), 3-131 (Maddinson, 27.4 ov), 4-166 (Ferguson, 35.6 ov), 5-170 (O’Keefe, 37.4 ov), 6-181 (Marsh, 39.3 ov), 7-185 (Butterworth, 41.2 ov), 8-199 (Hastings, 44.4 ov)
Zimbabwe XI innings (target: 233 runs from 50 overs)
BRM Taylorc & b Butterworth17 (25)
V. Sibandac & b Lyon37 (64)H. Masakadzac O’Keefe b Starc 57 (87)
RW Chakabvab Lyon0 (8)
CR Ervineb Lyon 9 (17)
E. Chigumburac Lyon b Hastings3 (13)
F. Mutizwalbw b Hastings0 (1)
P. Utseya lbw b Hastings0 (2)
KO Methc Finch b Lyon6 (12)
R Priceb Starc4 (4)
CB Mbofunot out0 (2)
Extras(lb 1, w 7, nb 1) 9
Total(all out; 39 overs; 161 mins)142 (3.64 runs per over)
Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Taylor, 7.5 ov), 2-94 (Sibanda, 22.5 ov), 3-96 (Chakabva, 24.4 ov), 4-111 (Ervine, 28.4 ov), 5-122 (Chigumbura, 33.1 ov), 6-122 (Mutizwa, 33.2 ov), 7-122 (Utseya, 33.4 ov), 8-136 (Meth, 37.4 ov), 9-140 (Masakadza, 38.2 ov), 10-142 (Price, 38.6 ov)