ZImbabwe A left chasing 178

Kenya Select 147 and 264 ( C Obuya 103, Mishra 54, Cremer 4-65) lead Zimbabwe A 234 by 177 runs
Scorecard

A century from skipper Collins Obuya and a half century from Tanmay Mishra ensured Kenya Select put up a fight on the third day of their first class match against Zimbabwe A at Harare Sports Club.

Obuya rode his luck in making 103 off 147 balls, sharing a 158-run fifth-wicket stand Mishra as the Kenyans made 264 in their second innings. That left Zimbabwe A chasing 178 on the last day.

Obuya came to the crease with Kenya Select wobbling at 74 for 4 after medium-pacer Blessing Mahwire and legspinner Graeme Cremer had run through the top order. He set about rebuilding the innings with a fruitful partnership with Mishra that ensured the last day would be no formality.

Obuya presented the home side with a perfect opportunity to remove him when he was on 71, playing a powerful drive off Keith Dabengwa only for Tymicen Maruma to fail to hold onto the catch at mid-on. There were no more hitches as Obuya went on to reach his century soon after tea, but soon after he fell to Prince Masvaure. That dismissal sparked a middle order collapse as three wickets fell without adding a run. Hiren Varaiya departed for a first-ball duck when he was given out leg-before to Masvaure next ball. Mishra then went the same way to Cremer.

Trevor Garwe got two wickets with consecutive balls and leg spinner Maruma, who picked up four wickets in the first innings, got his only wicket in the second when he had Saghar Karia leg-before.

A target of 178 might prove competitive considering that Zimbabwe had to lean heavily on Dabengwa in their first innings. The pitch should turn as well and Varaiya might be the key for the visitors as they seek their first victory during their month-long tour of Zimbabwe.