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