South Africa A square series

SOUTH Africa A cricket team squared off their three match One-Day International series with a 51-run win over Zimbabwe XI, following the application of the Duckworth, Lewis method, in the second match played at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Bad light forced a premature end to proceedings with Zimbabwe batsmen only facing 20 overs of the revised total of 46 and managing 93 runs in the process.

This was in reply to a revised target of 283 to win after showers forced the players off the field with South Africa A on 266 for 6 after 46.1 overs in their innings.

There will be a lot to play for when the two teams square for in the third and final match at the same venue tomorrow.

When the umpires knocked off the bails, Milton Shumba (31) and Sikandar Raza (39) were looking to breathe life back into Zimbabwe’s innings following a bad start by the top order.

Before Shumba and Raza combined, only opener Takudzwa Kaitano (14) had reached double figures with Kevin Kasuza falling without scoring as did Wesley Madhevere while Prince Masvaure made six.

Earlier, South Africa A had looked in good nick, posting 266 for the loss of six wickets before the rains intervened with Reeza Hendricks (102) scoring a 107-ball century.

His century featured 10 boundaries while Ryan Rickelton scored 63 before he was dismissed via the combination of Wellington Masakdza and Ryan Burl who completed the catch.

Theunis de Bruyn (26), Andile Phehlukwayo (27), and Henrich Klaasen (28 not out) made worthy contributions.

Seamer Tendai Chatara finished with 2 for 44 with the ball for Zimbabwe while Masakadza claimed figures of 2 for 49.

Sikandar Raza, who got rid of Hendricks, bowled ten overs to retain figures of 2 for 56.

Tanaka Chavanga (0 for 43, Donald Tiripano (0 for 44) and Wessley Madhevere (0 for 30) toiled for no reward.