JAYSON KARAN
The touring English county cricket sides, Durham and Glamorgan continued with their rich vein of form against Zimbabwean teams after winning their fifty over games against local oppositions by seven wickets and 59 runs respectively against Northerns and Southerns in Harare on Sunday.
At Old Hararians, Durham bowled out Northerns for 127 runs in 29.3 overs and managed to chase down the target in 18.3 overs, finishing on 128/3 while at Harare Sports Club, Glamorgan posted 329 runs in 49.5 overs and managed to restrict their opponents, Southerns to 262 runs all out in 46.2 overs.
It was another bad day for the Zimbabwean side Northerns as they have struggled with the bat a situation that has seen them unable to post defendable score.
Wellington Masakadza (Northerns) was the top scorer with 28 runs from 23 deliveries while Ryan Burl scored 27 runs from 28 balls. Nyasha Mayavo and Tadiwanashe Marumani both scored 21 runs off 42 and 25 balls respectively as they put up a below par score.
Liam Trevaskis took four wickets for the visitors, giving away just one run in three overs while Paul Coughlin and Oliver Gibson picked up two scalps each.
It was a smooth batting innings for the visitors Glamorgan as they only lost three wickets in their chase and picked a victory in their first ODI.
Ollie Robinson and David Bedingham had their side over the finish line with the bat after remaining unbeaten on 54 and 33 runs respectively.
“Varungu vakatambisa mari dzendenge ava,” wrote Tendekai Kingston, a disappointed Zim fan.
“These are division two County team we are playing with….. How bad are our teams really,” wrote Zibusiso Mulaudzi, another Zim Cricket fan.
“This proves that our local League is not as competitive as we have anticipated as our region sides are being outclassed in all formats by small English teams, eish a lot needs to be done,” wrote Clarence Munyukwi.
At Harare Sports Club, the Southerns fell short as they lost to Durham by 59 runs.
Left arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu took three scalps for the Southerns, giving away 49 runs in 10 overs whereas Tendai Chatara, Tanaka Chivanga and Brandon Mavuta had two wickets each as the Glamorgan batters put in a good defendable score.
Unlike the Northerns, the Southerns did not just handed Durham victory on a silver platter as they really put a lot of pressure on the visitors’ bowling attack as they tried to chase the target down, however they fell 59 runs short.
Three of the Southerns batters managed to score half centuries, with Gary Ballance emerging as the top scorer with 62 runs while Chamunorwa Chibhabha fell for 54 runs. Johnathan Campbell scored the other half century before he lost his wicket for 52 runs coming from 41 deliveries.
“At least these guys tried their best. It was a great match and we are now looking forward to the next game,” wrote Mike Mushonga.
“It was a better performance,” added Dumisani Nabela Maqutywa.
The final round of fixtures takes place Tuesday (Tomorrow) with Durham playing against Southerns at Harare Sports Club while Northerns will go head to head against Glamorgan at Old Hararians.