Durham sealed a comprehensive seven-wicket triumph over Zimbabwe A in the second and final first-class fixture on Thursday, overcoming a spirited fightback from the hosts anchored by Tafadzwa Tsiga’s defiant twin half-centuries at Takashinga Cricket Club.
Resuming Day 3 at 165/6, Zimbabwe A’s hopes hinged on Tsiga (76 off 148 balls) and Kundai Matigimu (27), who extended their seventh-wicket stand to 184. But once Matigimu fell to Callum Parkinson (3/51), the tail crumbled under pressure from Durham’s seam-spin combo.
Mitchell Killeen (3/36) and Stanley McAlindon (2/38) ripped through the lower order, leaving Tsiga stranded in a desperate run-out scramble as Zimbabwe A folded for 199. Tsiga’s valiant knock, laced with 12 fours and a six, followed his first-innings 64*, but his solo resistance proved futile.
Set a modest 166 for victory, Durham’s chase began shakily as Matigimu (1/47) uprooted skipper Alex Lees’ off-stump with his second delivery. However, 19-year-old opener Ben McKinney (80* off 104) anchored the pursuit with maturity, combining first with Emilio Gay (35) in an 86-run partnership. Though Richard Ngarava (1/33) and Wallace Mubayiwa (1/58) struck briefly to reduce Durham to 91/3, McKinney and Ollie Robinson (41* off 54) extinguished Zimbabwe A’s hopes with an unbroken 75-run stand, cruising home in just 31.2 overs.
Durham’s disciplined bowling attack outshone the hosts’ inconsistent batting, with Parkinson and Killeen sharing six wickets in the decisive second innings. Zimbabwe A’s top-order collapses—151 and 199 all out—contrasted sharply with Durham’s composed 185 and a dominant 166/3, underlining their depth under pressure.
For Zimbabwe A, Tsiga’s grit and Matigimu’s all-round contributions (27 runs, 1 wicket) offered glimpses of promise, but recurrent batting frailties haunted the side. Durham, meanwhile, showcased their depth as McKinney’s fluent unbeaten 80—punctuated by 11 boundaries—cemented his rising reputation, while Robinson’s brisk finish underscored their clinical edge.
The victory wraps up Durham’s tour on a high, while Zimbabwe A will rue missed opportunities despite Tsiga’s lionhearted display. The match highlighted the visitors’ adaptability and the hosts’ need for sustained partnerships to compete at this level.
