Zimbabwe Emerging lose to SA counterparts in first one-dayer

Zimbabwe Emerging – 235 all out in 49.5 overs (Alistair Frost 63*, Emmanuel Bawa 49, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 29; Dan Forrester 3/28, Caleb Seleka 2/31, Lesego Senokwane 1/16)

South Africa Emerging – 237-3 in 37.5 overs (Lesego Senokwane 89, Modiri Litheko 59, Dian Forrester 38*; Tapiwa Mufudza 3/34)

South Africa Emerging won by seven wickets

Alistair Frost, Emmanuel Bawa and Tapiwa Mufudza all had a good outing for the Zimbabwe Emerging team. However, they still went down to the South Africa Emerging side by seven wickets in the first of three one-day matches between them at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

The South Africans won the toss and put the hosts into bat.

The Zimbabweans got off to a disastrous start, as in the first three overs, Dian Forrester claimed the wickets of Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for nought and the captain Nick Welch for one.

In his fifth over, Forrester also dismissed Antum Naqvi for nine, scoring 33 for three wickets.

The heroes to drag the Zimbabweans from the pit were Bawa, who did not play in the four-day matches, and Takudzwanasshe Kaitano.

They took the score to 105 before Kaitano was out for 29 and was soon followed by Bawa with 49.

The sixth wicket then fell at 111.

Frost, however, was the next hero to emerge, playing a fine game, and Brandon Mavuta (29) helped him in a seventh-wicket partnership of 39.

The tail lent some good defensive support until the last man was run out in the final over, leaving Frost unbeaten with 63, scoring off 76 balls.

The final total was 235, a much better score than had seemed likely during most of the innings.

However, the South African opening pair were in ominous form, as Modiri Litheko and Lesego Senokwane began their reply fluently and continued to score quickly off the Zimbabwean bowling.

After 20 overs, they had already reached 135 without loss, better than a run a ball, and Senokwane showed he is not just a four-day player by reaching 80 at this stage.

This great partnership came to an end at 153, however, when Senokwane was caught at long-on from the bowling of Mufudza for 89 – he faced 78 balls and hit a six and 12 fours.

Litheko soon followed for 59, scored off 71 balls and a third wicket fell at 195, that of Valentine Kitime for 19 – both also to the bowling of Mufudza.
However, Mihlali Mpongwana, the captain, then joined Forrester, and they hit off the remaining runs without further loss.

Forrester smashed a six off Naqvi to complete victory in the 38th over, finishing with 38, while Mpongwana had 18.

Mufudza was, of course, the outstanding Zimbabwean bowler with his three wickets for 34 runs in 10 overs.