The first day of the three-day match between Zimbabwe ‘A’ and Durham came to a close with the visitors firmly in control. Durham declared their first innings at 368/8, leaving Zimbabwe ‘A’ trailing by 368 runs.

Zimbabwe ‘A’ captain Dion Myers won the toss and elected to bowl, but Durham’s batsmen took advantage of the conditions to post a formidable total. Alex Lees and Will Rhodes got Durham off to a solid start, with Lees scoring 37* and Rhodes 7* after 12 overs.

Victor Nyauchi was the pick of the Zimbabwe ‘A’ bowlers, taking three wickets, including the prized scalp of Ollie Robinson for 81. However, Durham’s middle order batsmen continued to pile on the runs, with the team reaching 329/6 after 70.4 overs.

A short rain delay failed to halt Durham’s momentum, and they eventually declared their innings at 368/8. Zimbabwe ‘A’ faced a tricky few overs before stumps, losing one wicket to end the day on 0/1.

The home team will need to produce a strong batting performance on day two to get back into the match. With a deficit of 368 runs, Zimbabwe ‘A’ will require a significant effort to avoid following on. The match resumes on day two, with Zimbabwe ‘A’ facing an uphill battle to get back into contention.

In other news, the Zimbabwe High-Performance team recently regrouped ahead of the historic tour of Durham Women to Zimbabwe. The tour, scheduled to take place from 20-27 March, will feature two 50-over matches at Old Hararians on 20 and 22 March, followed by three 20-over matches at Takashinga Cricket Club on 24, 26, and 27 March.

The Zimbabwe High-Performance team had been in Bulawayo for a six-week camp in January to early March, preparing for the upcoming tour. The team is eager to take on the Durham Women’s team and make a strong impression in front of their home crowd.

The tour is a significant opportunity for the Zimbabwe High-Performance team to gain valuable experience and exposure against top-level opposition. The team is expected to face stiff competition from the Durham Women’s team, but they are confident in their abilities and are looking forward to the challenge.

With the match against Durham ‘A’ and the upcoming tour against Durham Women, Zimbabwe cricket is set for an exciting few weeks.