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Centuries from Daniel Flynn and James Franklin, along with four first innings wickets by Nick Beard were highlights for New Zealand A in their high scoring draw against Zimbabwe in Harare.
NZA were in trouble early on day one after losing the toss with Tim McIntosh and Peter Ingram out inside 15 overs, but a tremendous 217 run partnership between Jamie How and Daniel Flynn put the tourists in the box seat.
How made a stylish 92 off 96 deliveries but it was Flynn who did the most damage with his highest First-Class score of 162. Flynn struck 16 boundaries and five sixes in an innings that lasted over 3.5 hours.
Gareth Hopkins made a tidy 50 down the order as New Zealand first innings came to a close on 426 after 100.5 overs.
Pace man Njabulo Ncube took three for 47 while spinner Malcolm Waller picked up three for 57.
Zimbabwe’s first innings was littered with middling scores and it took number seven batsman, Regis Chakabva, to make serious in-roads with the wicketkeeper batsman top scoring with 103.
New Zealand spinner Nick Beard was the best of the attack taking four for 87 with Zimbabwe conceding a 61 run lead after making a sporting declaration at 365 for seven.
New Zealand A’s second innings got off to a dicey start as they were quickly reduced to 65 for four on day three.
It took a captain’s knock by James Franklin to turn their fortunes with the classy all rounder making 107 not out and taking the score through to 280 for five before declaring to set Zimbabwe 342 to win in two sessions.
Gareth Hopkins backed up his first inning half century with a solid 73.
Zimbabwe made a great start in pursuit of the total with opener Tino Mawoyo hitting a brilliant 125 but he was unable to get support at the other end with the match declared a draw with the total on 243 for five.
New Zealand A 426 (Flynn 162, How 92, Ncube 3-47) and 280 for 5 dec (Franklin 107*, Hopkins 73) drew with ZimbabweA 365 for 7 dec (Chakabva 103*, Maruma 59, Ervine 55, Beard 4-87, Franklin 3-36) and 243 for 5 (Mawoyo 125*)
