Durham beat Zimbabwe A by 9 wickets in first encounter

ASHLEY DUBE

HARARE – In the opening three-day match at Harare Sports Club, Brian Bennett's valiant 56 runs stood out as Zimbabwe A faced Durham. However, Durham's impressive performance with the ball led to a victory by nine wickets.

Durham beat Zimbabwe A by nine wickets in first meeting

Image: Zimbabwe Cricket

Durham, starting day 2 at 187 for six, showcased Colin Ackermann's outstanding skill, boosting their total to 305. Ackermann's century and partnership with Ben Raine set the tone for Durham's dominance.

A spirited effort by Ackermann and Callum Parkinson pushed the score to 305 before Zimbabwe A's Ainsley Ndlovu's sterling bowling display, claiming five wickets for 85 runs, gave Durham a commanding lead.

Zimbabwe A struggled in their second innings with Parkinson wreaking havoc, but Bennett's notable 56 runs was a bright spot in a challenging situation.

Despite a commendable effort, Zimbabwe A fell short, posting 171.

Durham chased down 62 runs comfortably, securing victory as Jonathan Bushnell and Ben McKinney guided their team to success. The two teams will in clash in the second match at Takashinga Cricket Club next Tuesday.