Hondo restricts South Africa A to 272

Zimbabwe A 18 for 0 trail South Africa A 272 (Morkel 94, Hondo 4-46) by 254 runs
Scorecard

Douglas Hondo was the star performer for Zimbabwe A, taking 4 for 46 as South Africa A were bowled out for 272 on the first day of the four-day game at Bulawayo. Had it not been for some spirited resistance from Albie Morkel, who made 94 from 141 balls, and his 102-run last-wicket partnership with Charl Langeveldt, it could have been much worse for the South Africans.

Hondo rocked them early in the piece, taking four of the first five wickets. He started the slide by dismissing Abraham de Villiers, who had scored 91 and 84 in the first match, which South Africa A had won by seven wickets. de Villiers made just 8 this time before being bowled (20 for 1). Hondo then got rid of Loots Bosman, the other opener, for 23, before nailing two crucial middle-order wickets - Ashwell Prince (5) and Neil McKenzie (25) were both bowled as South Africa A slumped to 105 for 5.

Worse was to follow as three more wickets went cheaply, reducing them to 137 for 8, before Albie Morkel stepped in. He added 32 for the eighth wicket with Paul Adams, but the partnership which really frustrated Zimbabwe A was his last-wicket stand with Langeveldt, who remained unbeaten on 37. Morkel was finally dismissed by Tinashe Panyangara just six short of a hundred. His innings included 14 fours and a six.

Stuart Matsikenyeri and Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwean openers, saw off the seven overs in the evening, ensuring that they had all ten wickets in hand going into the second day.