Durham – 193-8 declared and 192-8 declared in 35.1 overs (Ben McKinney 52, Colin Ackermann 51, Jonathan Bushnell 31*; Mike Chinouya 3/65, Takudzwa Chataira 2/33, Ainsley Ndlovu 2/45)
Zimbabwe A – 116 and 133 all out in 43.5 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 37, Tadiwanashe Marumani 21, Milton Shumba 21*; Oliver Gibson 4/39, Callum Parkinson 4/47, Bas de Leede 1/11)
Durham won by 136 runs
Durham continued their dominance over Zimbabwe A with a 136-run win to win the series 2-0 and round off a solid red ball leg of the trip, as Ollie Gibson claimed 4/39 and his first-class best.
With Zimbabwe A set 270 to win, they scored 10 runs on Thursday evening for the loss of Tanu Makoni’s wicket as Ollie Gibson claimed his first.
Hamid Ali was soon out for 17, while Brian Bennett and Johnathan Campbell were dismissed for four and 10 respectively, as Ollie Gibson and Bas de Leede got rid of the Zimbabwe top order.
When Mpofu and Campbell were out in quick succession, the score was 83 for five and virtually all hope had gone.
Mpofu faced exactly 100 balls for his 37, which included five fours, before he was run out by Jonathan Bushnell, which saw Zimbabwe A collapse.
Three wickets fell within seven deliveries as Durham wrapped up the first-class match on the stroke of lunch on the final day.
The eventual total was 133, with paceman Oliver Gibson and left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson taking four wickets apiece, for 39 and 27 runs respectively.
Durham will now kick off their white ball leg of the tour on Sunday against Mountaineers at 1:30pm.
Durham – 193-8 declared and 192-8 declared in 35.1 overs (Ben McKinney 52, Colin Ackermann 51, Jonathan Bushnell 31*; Mike Chinouya 3/65, Takudzwa Chataira 2/33, Ainsley Ndlovu 2/45)
Zimbabwe A – 116 and 10-1 in 9 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 5*, Ali Hamid 5*; Oliver Gibson 1/8)
Day 2 – Stumps: Zimbabwe A need 260 runs
Durham continued their dominance against Zimbabwe A bowling the hosts out for 116 before setting the home side 270 to win.
Having declared late on day 1, Durham got off to the perfect start, as the first five wickets went down for only 15 runs.
Durham opening bowlers Paul Coughlin and Oliver Gibson shattered the Zimbabwe A top order by taking those five wickets in barely half an hour.
Coughlin removed Nkosana Mpofu to a nasty delivery and Tanu Makoni for a duck and two respectively, while Gibson had Ali Hamid caught at the wicket for three to make the score five for three wickets.
The heroes of the first match between the sides, Brian Bennett and Johnathan Campbell, were out to Gibson for three and five respectively to make it 15 for five wickets.
An eighth wicket partnership of 52 was the only real highlight for home side as Ainsley Ndlovu added 35 and Victor Nyauchi 21.
Coughlin took three wickets for 30 and Gibson picked up a first-class best of 3/18 bowling Zimbabwe A out for 116 and Durham leading by 77.
The county side took a carefree approach to their second innings, starting with 26 off 29 balls by Michael Jones.
Ben McKinney looked in good touch scoring his maiden first-class fifty with 52 off 49 balls which included 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Colin Ackermann scored his second 50 in Durham colours, Jonathan Bushnell made 31 not out which included some classy shots, before Durham again declared before the close.
With 192 on the board, Durham declared setting Zimbabwe A 270 runs, much the highest total of the match, to win.
Chinouya was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 65, but he took some punishment from his 9.1 overs.
Before the close Zimbabwe A lost Makoni, bowled by Gibson without getting off the mark, but Mpofu and Hamid hung on by means of grim defence until the close when the score was 10 for one wicket after nine overs – both batters will resume on the third and final day with five runs as Zimbabwe A face a serious challenge.
Durham – 193-8 declared in 58 overs (Scott Borthwick 65, Jonathan Bushnell 29*, Michael Jones 25; Victor Nyauchi 4/43, Ainsley Ndlovu 3/30, Takudzwa Chataira 1/64)
Zimbabwe A – Day 1 – Stumps
Scott Borthwick continued his fine pre-season with 65 on a frustrating day weather wise for Durham against Zimbabwe A at Takashinga Cricket Club.
Ainsley Ndlovu, captaining the home side, won the toss and put Durham in to bat after a delayed start due to rain in the morning.
Durham made a steady start, with their captain Scott Borthwick going in first with Michael Jones, and they put on 39 in almost 16 overs before Takudzwa Chataira, had Jones caught by Brian Bennett for 24.
Borthwick and Colin Ackermann took the score to 66 before the latter, who had been looking dangerous, became Nyauchi’s first victim, caught by Tadiwanashe Marumani behind the stumps.
Four balls later the new man Bas de Leede followed him, as Nyauchi had him caught by Ndlovu without addition to the score. Borthwick and Ben McKinney then got on top of the bowling for a while, adding 57 runs in 12 overs before Nyauchi struck again.
He had McKinney caught at the wicket for 17, and in his following overtook the vital wicket of Borthwick, reducing Durham to 132 for five.
Borthwick had scored 65 off 114 balls, leading his team from the front with the bat.
Jonathan Bushnell also played a solid innings of 27 not out, but with eight wickets down for 193 Durham declared the innings closed with 30 minutes remaining of day 1. Unfortunately due to bad light no further player was possible and Zimbabwe A closed on 0/0.