Australia A tour of Zimbabwe – Tour match- Zimbabwe XI v Australia A- Day 2 Recap
The 2 day tour match between Australia A v Zimbabwe XI ended in a draw, after the host made 306 for 9 at the close of play, on the second day, venued at the Kwekwe Sports Club, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045, July 11, 2011.
Australia was agonizingly close to victory but somehow could not take the last Zimbabwean wicket, which meant that the match ended in a tie.
Apart from the heroics of the last pair, who weathered the final few overs to draw the match, the main contributories for the Zimbabwean team came from Elton Chigumbura, who played a superb knock of 95, which included 12 boundaries and a six.
For Australia A, it was slow left- armer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Beer-c1949, who did most of the damage, as he took 6 Zimbabwean scalp, in an impressive bowling spell.
Day 2 began with Zimbabwe openers, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CJ-Chibhabha-c1263, kicked off the proceedings for their side. The start was circumspect, with Australian bowlers bowling to a good line and length.
Once the ball got old, both openers started to play some shot. However, with Australia’s daunting target seeming well out of reach, it remained to be seen whether the visitors could take 10 Zimbabwean wickets.
The first wicket to fell was of Mawoyo in the 20th over of the day, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TD-Paine-c2652, took a good catch.
Paine got his second catch of the day as Chibhabha (32) went to some good piece of bowling by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Trent-Copeland-c2709, took his wicket. The host had only posted 54
on the board.
The innings however, was rescued by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/E-Chigumbura-c1411, who took charge to the Australian attack. He was ably supported by the middle order as all chipped in with runs.
Chigumbura, along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Regis-Wiriranai-Chakabva-c84623 took the total past the 100 mark as both shared a crucial fourth wicket stand of 80, to guide their side out of trouble.
With the pitch seemingly offered little to the fast bowler, it was Australia’s slow left-armer, Beer, who turned on a superb bowling spell for his side.
He took all the remaining six wickets, as he dismissed Chakabva (47), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Malcolm-Waller-c74039 (25).
When he finally cleaned up Chigumbura(95), Zimbabwe were reeling at 249-6. Beer than took another 3, with the most important being http://www.senore.com/Cricket/F-Mutizwa-c1426, who played a good knock of 67 off just 70 balls.
This meant that it was left to the last wicket pairing of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Natsai-Mushangwe-c2074, to negotiate the final few overs.
They managed to do it, which meant that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 had to settle for a draw.
Australia A will now take Zimbabwe XI in a four day match, schedule on July 15, 2011.
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