Maruma engineers Zimbabwe fightback

Zimbabwe Select put up a spirited fight after lunch to check Sri Lanka A's progress on the first day of their four-day match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The hosts bowled superbly in the afternoon to restrict Sri Lanka to 245 for 8 at the close.

Sri Lanka looked on course for a huge score when openers Mahela Udawatte and Tharanga Paranavitana took them to 78 for 0 at lunch. They extended the opening stand to 98 before Paranavitana edged Prosper Utseya to the keeper. Udawatte was dropped twice, first on 19 and then on 89, and punished the errors before he offered Timycen Maruma a return catch.

Maruma was the outstanding bowler, finishing with 3 for 48. He was not initially supposed to play but was drafted in as a late replacement for Sean Williams who withdraw with a severe headache a few minutes before the start.

Utseya and Chamu Chibhabha chipped in with two wickets apiece while Christopher Mpofu picked up one.