Williams and Dabengwa help Zimbabwe claw back

Half-centuries by Sean Williams and Keith Dabengwa helped Zimbabwe Select avert the follow-on in their four-day game against Sri Lanka A in Harare. With a day left in the match, the Sri Lankans were at 106 for 4, with a lead of 219 runs.

Zimbabwe started the day needing 74 to avoid the follow-on with four wickets in hand. Williams, a former Zimbabwe Under-19 captain, put on 51 with Dabengwa before being bowled by offspinner Dilruwan Perera for 52.

Captain Prosper Utseya then supported Dabengwa before being caught in the slips off the bowling of Perera. Gary Brent managed only 3 before being dismissed leg-before to bring in last man Christopher Mpofu. The Zimbabwe innings folded at 313, a deficit of 113 runs, when Mpofu edged a Chamara Kapugedara delivery to first slip leaving Dabengwa stranded on 62. Perera, who top scored in the first innings, was the most successful bowler, picking up four wickets.

Zimbabwe took four second-innings wickets, including that of the in-form Kaushal Silva and didn't allow any partnerships to develop. As in the first innings, Utseya was the most effective bowler - bagging two wickets.

A draw should boost the Zimbabweans as they have lost all their games against the visiting India A and South Africa A teams earlier this year.