Mashonaland enter final day at Harare as favourites to win

There could be an interesting finish on the fourth day of the match between the CFX Academy and Mashonaland A at Country Club in Harare. Mashonaland A, after leading by 73 runs on first innings, failed in their second innings and the Academy were left with 223 to win. However, Mashonaland A seized the advantage by taking two Academy wickets for 18 runs by the close.

It took the Academy batsmen two overs to score the four remaining runs to avoid the possibility of a follow-on, without losing either of their two remaining wickets. Pete Rinke and Nyasha Chari soon looked settled, playing some well-judged strokes and handling the second new ball capably. Rinke on 48 survived a low chance to first slip off Amos Maungwa, before reaching his fifty off 163 balls. After the drinks interval, though, they showed signs of losing concentration, hardly surprising as with their regular diet of one-day cricket they would rarely, if ever, have been required to bat for so long.

Aided by some poor fielding, however, they stayed for almost two hours until captain Henry Olonga in desperation brought himself on to bowl for the first time today and had Chari (24) playing the ball on to his stumps via the inside edge. The declaration came soon afterwards, with Rinke on 84, at 273 for nine, 73 runs behind. This gave the Academy two overs' bowling before lunch, during which they scored five without loss.

After the interval Mashonaland A quickly lost Brendan Taylor (4), well caught low in the gully off Jordane Nicolle. Mark Vermeulen, whose noisy behaviour on the field during the Academy innings had excited adverse comment, also scored only four before essaying a wild swipe across the line to be bowled by Arnold Rushambwa, and Mashonaland A were 30 for two.

With the removal of the scorer of more than half of their first-innings runs, Mashonaland A looked vulnerable and the batting lacked conviction. Opener Andre Neethling was next to go, caught at the wicket off Rinke for 25, and was immediately followed by Alester Maregwede, caught at mid-on trying to pull Nicolle. Mashonaland A were now 54 for four.

Elton Chigumbura and Andrew Durham dug in but, on the stroke of tea, Innocent Chinyoka came on and bowled out Durham for 3, leaving Mashonaland A in considerable trouble, 63 for five at tea. Chigumbura, aged 15, was the only specialist batsman left, but he handled the pressure well.

Mashonaland A have a long tail, and things worsened for them when the stubborn Norbert Manyande (9) was run out by a brilliant direct hit from Chinyoka, fielding near the long-leg boundary, attempting a second run. Chigumbura compiled an impressive 39 before being caught at slip off the ubiquitous Chinyoka, the score at this stage being 127 for seven.

With their long tail, Mashonaland A were not expected to last much longer, and they did not disappoint the Academy, although Shepherd Makunura scored a useful 21 not out. The eventual total was 149, leaving the CFX Academy 223 to win.

Henry Olonga, perhaps fired up by his team's poor batting, opened the bowling with a fiery spell, but failed to break through. David Mutendera took the wickets, trapping Chinyoka lbw for 6 and then forcing night-watchman Arnold Rushambwa to play the ball on to his stumps without scoring. Mashonaland A will therefore enter the final day as favourites.