Harris five-for frustrates Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Select 155 and 95 for 2 trail South Africa A 542 for 7 (Dippenaar 189, Amla 142, Ontong 70 ) by 292 runs
Scorecard

Paul Harris's five-wicket haul further compounded Zimbabwe Select's misery on the third day at Bulawayo as they crumbled for 155 in reply to South Africa A's 542 for 7. Following on, Zimbabwe reached 95 for 2, helped by Tatenda Taibu and the opener Hamilton Masakadza.

Play resumed with Zimbabwe on 36 for 3 while Taibu and Timycen Maruma at the crease. Taibu could only add two runs to his overnight score of six before Andre Nel bowled him in the third over of the morning. Nel struck again when he trapped Maruma leg-before for eight.

Stuart Matsikenyeri and Elton Chigumbura strived to restore the home side's innings but they could only put up 26 for the sixth wicket before Chigumbura fell to left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdullah, caught behind by Thami Tsolekile for 18.

Harris got his first wicket of the day when he had Matsikenyeri caught at first slip by Andrew Hall for 26. Harris, the left-arm spinner, dismissed Keith Dabengwa for nine.

Prosper Utseya and Gary Brent frustrated the South Africans with some resolute batting in an ninth-wicket stand of 59 as they fended off a hostile spell from Nel. Utseya fell for 32 when he skied a Harris delivery and Nel ran in from mid-on to take the catch.

Second time around, the openers Masakadza and Brendan Taylor put up 24 before Taylor fell lbw for 13. Vusi Sibanda's struggle with the bat continued when Hall bowled him for seven.

Taibu and Masakadza defended well but at the same time punished the South African bowlers. Taibu dispatched the offspinner Imraan Khan for two sixes in a row as he changed to offensive mode.

Zimbabwe Select could still escape with a draw - but their slim hopes rest on some firm resistance from Taibu and Masakadza.