Nyauchi bags fifer as Zimbabwe A battle their way into final day

Zimbabwe A – 163 and 238-7 in 76 overs (Nyasha Mayavo 55, Tony Munyonga 43, Joylord Gumbie 42; Mohammad Ali 2/37, Aamer Jamal 2/45, Hussain Talat 1/10)

Pakistan Shaheens – 479 all out in 116 overs (Haseebullah Khan 117, Hussain Talat 74, Omair Yousuf 65; Victor Nyauchi 5/125, Tanaka Chivanga 3/89, Dion Myers 1/17)

Day 3 – Stumps: Zimbabwe A trail by 78 runs

Joylord Gumbie, Tony Munyonga and Nyasha Mayavo all played good fighting innings for Zimbabwe A in their second four-day match against Pakistan Shaheens at Mutare Sports Club on Friday.

Their spirit enabled the hosts to take the match into its fourth and final day on Saturday. The tourists began day three on 461 for eight wickets, with Haseebullah Khan on 111 and Mohammad Ali on eight.

Victor Nyauchi soon brought the innings to a close, when in a single over he had Khan caught out for 117 and, after the last man Shahnawaz Dahani had the temerity to hit him for six, bowled him out.

This gave Nyauchi a five-wicket haul, for which he bowled 26 overs and conceded 125 runs. Tanaka Chivanga overcame his injury problem to take three wickets for 89.

The final total was 479 and the Pakistanis led by 316 on the first innings. Zimbabwe A batted steadily in their second innings, with the first six batters all reaching double figures, but none of them made went on to make the really big innings that their team needed in such a situation.

Gumbie and Tadiwanashe Marumani opened with a partnership of 36 before Marumani was caught for 17 off Hussain Talat. Gumbie was struck a painful blow on the hand by a ball from Ali and had to retire hurt, but he returned later.

Roy Kaia scored 27 before he was out lbw to Mohammad Ali at 74 for two. Munyonga made 43 and Johnathan Campbell 24, taking the score to 132 for four wickets.

Gumbie returned and shared the highest partnership of the day with Mayavo, as they added 74 for the fifth wicket.

They were going well when Aamer Jamal struck two serious blows as he had Gumbie caught at the wicket for 42 and with his next delivery bowled out the new man, Dion Myers.

At 231 Mayavo, the only batter to reach a fifty, was caught off Ali for 55, not long before the close of play. When play ended Luke Jongwe was not out with nine, partnered by Brandon Mavuta on five.

Zimbabwe A still need 78 runs from their last three wickets on Saturday, and they will have to bat very well to achieve this.