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Zimbabwe recorded their largest-ever defeat in Tests against New Zealand at the weekend, losing by an innings and 301 runs on day three - after most of day two had been lost to rain. An innefectual bowling display allowed New Zealand to reach 495/7 before declaring early on day three; the hosts then went on to humiliate Zimbabwe by bowling them out twice in the remainder of the day, first for 51 in the first innings - a new Test low for Zimbabwe, "beating" the 54 they recorded against South Africa in their last away Test - and then for 143 in the second innings, where at least Regis Chakabva (63) discovered some fight to get the score into double-figures. Chris Martin led the bowling figures for New Zealand, taking a combined 8/31 in the match. A beaten and bruised Zimbabwe now move on to the ODI series, which starts at Dunedin on Friday. Full scorecard - which doesn't make for pretty reading - is below the cut.
New Zealand 495/7 decl (123.4 overs; Taylor 122, Watling 102*, Cremer 2/112), Zimbabwe 51 (28.5 overs; Waller 23, Martin 2/5) & 143 (f/o; 48.3 overs; Chakabva 63, Martin 6/26). New Zealand win by an innings and 301 runs.

As usual, the 13-a-side tour match between Zimbabweand and New Zealand XI turned into a bit of practice, mostly for the hosts, before petering out to a draw. NZ XI got off to a shaky start in their first innings, losing two early wickets for 6 runs before the middle order settled and pushed on to 272/7 before declaring; while Zimbabwean's reply, which saw them reach 329 before being bowled out, will have done Regis Chakabva's chances of selection for the Test match no harm - he top-scored with an unbeaten 89. NZ XI seemed to get the measure of the Zimbabwean bowlers in the second innings, though, with only one wicket falling (Bracewell, bowled by Cremer for 26). Four others retired, to see NZ XI reach 274/5 at the close of play, securing the draw. After a good start on the first day, the Zimbabwean camp should be worried by their inability to make breakthroughs in the 2nd innings, and with the one-off Test starting on Thursday, there's not much time to work out the problem. Full scorecard below the cut.
New Zealand XI 272/7d (73.5 overs; Watling 84, S Masakadza 2/36) & 274/5 (62 overs; van Wyk 61, Cremer 1/56), Zimbabweans 329 (107 overs; Chakabva 87*, Wagner 3/86). Match drawn.

Zimbabwe's final match in the U19 Tri-series was against Pakistan, who have so far been the form team of the tournament - and they again proved themselves with a thumping 7-wicket win against Zimbabwe. After bowling Zimbabwe out for a poor 138 - only two Zimbabweans reach double-figures - Pakistan raced to the target in 28 overs, losing just three wickets along the way. That ends Zimbabwe's participation in the tournament, in which they remained winless, while Pakistan and South Africa will play one further round-robin match before meeting in the final at the weekend. Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe 138 (40.5 overs; Masasire 65, Zia-ul-Haq 3/23), Pakistan 139/3 (28 overs; Faraz Ali 68, Nherera 1/11). Pakistan U19 win by 7 wickets.

SA made sure that Zim U19's woeful run in the U19 Tri-series continued, inflicting a 3-wicket defeat on this side in Somerset West. Zimbabwe, batting first, were bowled out for 171 - although Campbell Light's unbeaten 59 did a lot to secure him the man of the match award - but while South Africa didn't exactly race away with the run-chase, Zimbabwe weren't able to claim enough wickets to really put the pressure on, and SA reached the target in the 43rd over. Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe 171 (43.3 overs; Light 59*, Ngoepe 3/38), South Africa 172/7 (42.1 overs; Bowes 50*, Bowie 3/50). South Africa U19 win by 3 wickets.

Pakistan U19 put on the best batting performance of the tri-series so far to hand Zimbabwe U19 their fourth defeat, putting on a rapid-fire 305 in their 50 overs - which, based on their performances in the tournament so far, was clearly a scare that Zimbabwe would have no chance of catching. Sami Aslam (75) and Babar Azam (71) opened the assault with an opening partnership of 148, and while Zim did manage to claim a few scalps it never seemed to slow Pakistan down. In reply, Zim simply had no answer, and were bowled out for 215 in the 41st over, with Ryan Burl's mid-order 40 being the best score. Full scorecard below the cut.
Pakistan 305/5 (50 overs; Sami Aslam 75, Zimwa 2/67), Zimbabwe 215 (40.3 overs; Burl 40, Ehsan Adil 3/29). Pakistan U19 win by 90 runs.

Another tri-series match, another defeat for Zimbabwe U19, this time falling to South Africa U19. Choosing to bat first, they posted a below-par 176, only completing 38 of their 50 overs and giving the hosts an easy chase. James Bruce was the pick of the bunch for the Zimbabweans, top scoring with 45. Zim's bowlers took a few early wickets in the South African innings, reducing them to 39/4 in the 13th over and giving themselves a chance, but no further wickets fell as Shaylin Pillay (91*) and Murray Coetzee (51*) completed the chase with 4 overs to spare. Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe 176 (38.2 overs; Bruce 45, Nqweni 3/40), South Africa 177/4 (45.4 overs; Pillay 91*, Bowie 3/25). South Africa U19 win by 6 wickets. (Match report & scorecard)

Zimbabwe U19 were on the receiving end of another drubbing in the U19 Tri-Series in South Africa yesterday. Pakistan, batting first, reached 265/9 from their 50 overs, with James Bruce (3/64) and Luke Jongwe (3/46) putting in decent performances with the ball along the way. Requiring 5.3/over in their chase, though, Zimbabwe never really got started, and while Jongwe and Luke Masasire (top-scorer for Zimbabwe with 54) put on a decent opening partnership, once the first wicket fell is started a typically-Zimbabwean collapse - from 43/1 in the 17th over, of the remaining batsmen only Bruce (22) passed 20, and Zimbabwe were bowled out for 136 in the 37th over. Zia-ul-Haq's 3/16 led a good combined bowling effort for the Pakistanis. Full scorecard below the cut. The win put Pakistan on top of the tournament table, ahead of South Africa on net run-rate, while Zimbabwe remain bottom.
Pakistan 265/9 (50 overs; Babar Azam 85, Bruce 3/64), Zimbabwe 136 (36.4 overs; Masasire 54, Zia-ul-Haq 3/16). Pakistan U19 win by 129 runs.

The U19 Tri-Series between South Africa, Pakistan and Zimbabwe opened with the meeting of Zimbabwe and South Africa in Cape Town, with a poor start to the game setting the tone for Zimbabwe. Batting first, their top order failed to produce anything useful, as the side was reduced to 73/6 before the lower order found some staying power and launched a late fightback that saw the side to 197/8 at the end of their allotted overs. Travis Muller (3/37) and Rabian Engelbrecht (3/33) did the damage with the ball. In reply, South Africa never struggled, losing just one wicket - Chad Bowes (12) on the way to the target, which they reached in the 33rd over. Full scorecard below the cut. Zimbabwe will meet Pakistan in the tournament's second match on Thursday.
Zimbabwe 197/8 (50 overs; Burl 59, Engelbrecht 3/33), South Africa 202/1 (32.4 overs; de Kock 123*, Bowie 1/44). South Africa U19 win by 9 wickets.

Kenya rounded off their tour of Zimbabwe with their largest loss yet, as Tuskers warmed up for the forthcoming Stanbic T20 in the best possible way. Kenya managed just 117 from their 20 overs, with Aga's 53 being the only innings of note in a disappointing knock; Keegan Meth took two wickets in the first over, finishing on 2/27 from his 4 overs, while Glenn Querl again showed his talent, taking 3/13 from 3 overs bowled. Tuskers reached the required target with few problems, with 20 balls still remaining when they crossed the line. Openers Horton (43) and Smith (42) led the way, and while there was a small flurry of wickets towards the end of the innings, it wasn't enough to stop them. Full scorecard below the cut.
Kenya 117/6 (20 overs; Aga 53*, Querl 3/13), Tuskers 121/3 (16.4 overs; Horton 43, Patel 2/19). Matabeleland Tuskers win by 7 wickets.

Another day, another loss for Kenya, this time in the first of two T20s they're scheduled to play against Midwest Rhinos. Kenya, batting first, posted 114 before being bowled out, with only Obuya (44) and Odhiambo (24) making much of an impression; Graeme Cremer marked his return to fitness with 2/17; but once again it was Gary Ballance who starred for Rhinos, scoring 43 off 41 balls - ably assisted by Malcolm Waller, with 33 off 25 - as Rhinos raced to the target with over 3 overs to spare. Full scorecard below the cut.
Kenya 114 (18.5 overs; Obuya 44, Muzhange 3/15), Rhinos 115/5 (16.3 overs; Ballance 43, Otieno 3/20). Midwest Rhinos win by 5 wickets.