Zimbabwe A forced to settle for draw against Bangladesh

Zimbabwe A lost a fine opportunity to secure a victory over the Bangladeshi tourists and had to settle for a draw. Success looked very possible shortly after lunch, but they were foiled by a stubborn last-wicket partnership and their own slow over rate, which wasted a total of 36 overs during the course of the match.

Bangladesh began the final day 137 runs ahead, and the overnight batsmen Javed Omar and Habibul Bashar went after the bowling from the first ball.

Zimbabwe A quickly struck back, though, as Mluleki Nkala trapped Habibul lbw for 24 and Aminul Islam (4) stepped back on to his stumps while playing Henry Olonga to leg. Olonga struck again when Mark Vermeulen in the gully picked up a superb low catch to dismiss Javed for 25, and Bangladesh were 66 for four. Sensing possible victory, Zimbabwe A improved their over rate, but soon righted this aberration.

Akram Khan and Naimur Rahman dug in to prevent a recovery, adding 53 before the latter was well caught low at second slip by Craig Wishart off Nkala for 32, to be quickly followed by Khaled Masud (0), caught by Olonga at square leg off Nkala, and Enamul Hoque (0), to another good catch by Vermeulen at deep mid-wicket. Bangladesh were 126 for seven at lunch, 237 ahead with only three wickets left.

Afterwards Nkala struck again, having Hasibul (4) caught in the slips. Akram Khan (32) showed great reluctance to walk when given out lbw to Olonga. Then came that stubborn last-wicket partnership between Mohammad Sharif (11) and Monjurul Islam (11 not out) in 54 minutes before the former skied a catch off Strang. The innings closed at 166, leaving Zimbabwe A 278 to win in 58 overs, less whatever was doomed to be lost to bad light - quite possibly a six an over job.

Scorer Gavin Shilton calculated that over the course of the match the home side wasted no fewer than 36 overs with their slow over rate; Zimbabwe A for their part claimed that with four seamers they could not reasonably have bowled at a better rate than the 12.84 per hour they managed during Bangladesh's two innings. Bangladesh for their part managed just over 14 an hour, so they are clearly beginning to learn the `requirements' of international cricket.

At tea a draw looked the most likely result, as in ten overs Zimbabwe A had moved to 28 for one, with Hamilton Masakadza (7) out to the final ball, caught at mid-off off Monjurul. Mark Vermeulen, trying to open up afterwards, survived two hard chances off successive deliveries from Hasibul, but pierced the field too infrequently and eventually drilled a catch to mid-on for 25, again off Monjurul.

Slowly Zimbabwe A gave up serious thoughts of victory, although Gavin Rennie stayed firm while keeping the score moving at one end and Doug Marillier hit some powerful boundaries. When the last 15 overs were signalled, 170 runs were still needed, and the two batsmen enjoyed some batting practice as they both reached fifties in a free-scoring partnership. Marillier then hit the spinners with remarkable power and frequency before being caught on the very edge of the boundary at mid-wicket for 77, scored off 47 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.

The match then dragged to a meaningless conclusion, with Zimbabwe A finishing on 205 for three, Rennie unbeaten on 79 and Craig Wishart 6.