Matsikenyeri battles to keep Zimbabwe afloat

South Africa A 280 and 44 for 1 need another 88 runs to beat Zimbabwe Select 242 and 169 (Matsikenyeri 67*, Hall 3-38, Harris 4-38)
Scorecard

After two days where the sides were evenly balanced, South Africa A took charge on the third day at Harare Sports Club to move within 88 runs of beating Zimbabwe Select. Only a battling 67 from Stuart Matsikenyeri meant that the match went into a fourth day.

Zimbabwe resumed on 17 for 0, still 21 runs in arrears, but were in trouble as early as the fourth over when Hamilton Masakadza was run out by a direct hit from Johan Botha pushing for a single that was never on. When Tino Mawoyo, whose place must now be in doubt, fell leg-before to Andre Nel in the next over, it was always going to be backs-against-the-wall cricket.

The pace was funereal on a slow pitch - 44 runs came from the first 30 overs - and wickets tumbled steadily. The killer blow was delivered just after lunch when Andrew Hall had the in-form Tatenda Taibu caught behind to reduce Zimbabwe to 61 for 4, and that became 78 for 7 as Paul Harris snuffled two wickets.

Matsikenyeri found some support from Gary Brent, with who he added 50 for the eighth wicket - and Tawanda Mupariwa - 41 for the ninth - but in the end he was left high and dry.

Set 132 to win, South Africa made a solid, if unspectacular, start although Mupariwa gave Zimbabwe a tiny glimmer of hope when he removed Alviro Peterson, caught at point, three overs from the close.