Zim ‘A’ avoid Canada slip-up
The Zimbabwe “A” national cricket team avoided a
potential banana skin to account for Canada by two
wickets in the first of three one-day internationals at
Harare Sports Club yesterday.
With Zimbabwe “A” fielding a team dominated by their
national team regulars, a defeat to the minnows despite
the “A” tag would have been a huge embarrassment.
To their credit, they produced a polished chase
befitting their status.
The hosts’ win was built on opening batsman Chamu
Chibhabha’s half century, Sean Williams and Peter
Moor’s 43 and 45 respectively as well as identical
scores of 37 each from Malcolm Waller and Tymcen
Maruma.
This after Canada won the toss and elected to bat to
post a competitive total of 248 for 6 in 50 overs with
Bhavindu Adhihetty making a top score of 70 before he
was caught behind off the bowling of Sikandar Raza
butt.
The tourists made a good start and managed to build on
it losing their first wicket having put 57 runs on the
board while the second fell after they had scored 102
runs.
They also accumulated at a good pace with Wikhil Dutta
particularly brisk with 34 runs from 25 balls where he
hit two boundaries while on two occasions he cleared
it.
Canada showed they meant business and were never going
to let their hosts have it easy.
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a bad start when they lost
Solomon Mire with just five runs on the board.
Two runs later, Sikandar Raza Butt, batting at number
three, soon followed him to the pavilion.
Chibhabha and Williams knuckled down for an 84-run
third-wicket collaboration which had Zimbabweans
breathing easier.
From there on, the hosts never looked like losing the
match losing Moor on 35.3 overs with 163 runs to their
name.
Still Canada weren’t just going to fold as Zimbabwe
went on to lose eight wickets and had to bat 48 overs.
Waller and Maruma put on a sixth-wicket stand worth 74
runs, which was broken by Satsimranjit, who finished
with impressive figures of 5-53 in his 10 overs.
The two teams square off for the second match at the
same venue tomorrow and Zimbabwe could ring some
changes as they seek to give their players a run-out
ahead of more important tours.
by Kevin Mapasure
