Cricket:Defending champions Ireland batted out the final day to draw their ICC Intercontinental Cup clash with Zimbabwe in Harare.
Centuries from Sean Williams and Keith Dabengwa saw Zimbabwe resume this morning on 506 for six and they eventually reached 590 in response to the visitors’ 465.
Forster Mutizwa finished 67 not out as Kevin O’Brien took the last two wickets to finish with four for 104, Trent Johnston claiming four for 118.
Ireland’s second innings started badly as they lost opener Paul Stirling for one in the second over, but captain Will Porterfield and wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien settled their nerves with a second-wicket stand of 97.
Porterfield finally fell for 66 and O’Brien, who also added 33 with Gary Wilson, made 41. George Dockrell was dismissed without scoring but Wilson’s 35 not out saw Ireland to the close with no further alarms as they finished on 151 for four.
The six points gained by the hosts for their first-innings lead leave them second in the table and still firmly in the mix for a place in the final.
Scorecard
INTERCONTINENTAL CUP(at Harare Sports Club): Day 4 of 4.
ZIMBABWE 1ST INNS
F Mutizwa not out 67
S Masakadza lbw b Mooney 22
N Mushangwe b Johnston 14
N Ncube c Wilson b K O'Brien 6
T Chatara c Mooney b K O'Brien 14
Extras (b19 lb10 nb3 w10) 42
Total (all out, 173.2 ovs) 590
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-107, 3-111, 4-348, 5-542, 6-457, 7-521, 8-551, 9-566.
Bowling: A Eastwood 20-2-92-0; T Johnston 36-4-118-4 ; K O'Brien 30.2-4-104-4; J Mooney 17-3-43-2; G Dockrell 29-5-99-0; A White 24-4-62-0; P Stirling 16-1-40-0; W Porterfield 1-0-3-0.
IRELAND 2ND INNS
W Porterfield c Williams b Matsikenyeri 66
P Stirling b Chatara 1
N O'Brien c Chakabva b Sibanda 41
G Wilson not out 35
G Dockrell lbw b Williams 0
K O'Brien not out 2
Extras (b5 nb1) 6
Total (for 4 wkts, 54 ovs) 151
Did not bat: A Botha, A White, J Mooney, T Johnston, A Eastwood.
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-103, 3-136, 4-137.
Bowling: S Masakadze 7-1-28-0; T Chatara 4-0-12-1; N Ncube 6-1-20-0; N Mushangwe 5-0-23-0; K Dabengwa 12-2-15-0; S Matsikenyeri 10-3-32-1; V Sibanda 5-2-3-1; S Williams 5-1-13-1.
Zimbabwe XI (9pts) drew with Ireland (3pts)
INTERCONTINENTAL CUP TABLE
TEAM P W D L Pts
Afghanistan 5 4 1 0 77
Zimbabwe XI 5 3 2 0 72
Scotland 5 3 1 1 69
Ireland 6 2 3 1 55
Kenya 5 2 1 2 43
Netherlands 6 0 1 5 15
Canada 6 0 1 5 9