South Africa A suffered a five-run defeat to a Zimbabwe XI in the first one-day match in Harare on Monday.
The hosts were 266-6 after 48.5 overs when bad light stopped play and the result was decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
SA A had posted 273-7 in their 50 overs having been being put in to bat thanks to 87 off 93 balls from Andile Phehlukwayo and captain Heinrich Klaasen’s 58 from 51.
Donald Tiripano was the pick of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, taking 4-57 in eight overs. He dismissed top-order batsmen Theunis de Bruyn (32), Tony de Zorzi (28) and Reeza Hendricks (22).
The Zimbabwe XI lost opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano for a duck, but Prince Masvaure (49) and Wessley Madhevere (34) got the run chase on track.
Milton Shumba (45* off 50 balls) and Tiripano (24*) were at the crease when the game ended prematurely.
Lizaad Williams (2-29) and Hendricks (2-24) were SA A’s most successful bowlers.
The second match of the three-match series will take place at the same venue on Wednesday.
