Zimbabwe A – 344 and 93 all out in 45.3 overs (Timycen Maruma 33, Carl Mumba 13*, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 11; Glenton Stuurman 3/18, Daryn Dupavillon 3/18, Migael Pretorius 2/10). South Africa A – 603-4 declared in 135 overs (Zubayr Hamza 222*, Sinethemba Qeshile 124*, Ryan Rickelton 109; Roy Kaia 3/98, Tanaka Chivanga 1/101). South Africa A won by an innings and 166 runs

Only Timycen Maruma and Carl Mumba batted with much spirit as Zimbabwe A put up a feeble performance in their second innings and were bowled out for only 93 runs at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

South Africa A thus won the first four-day match between the teams by an innings and 166 runs. The hosts began the day on 22 for two wickets, having started their second innings 259 runs in arrears – the overnight batsmen were Takudzwanashe Kaitano with 10 and Maruma with three.

Kaitano was soon out for 11, dabbling at a ball from Lutho Sipamla well outside his off stump that he edged to the wicketkeeper, Sinethemba Qeshile, to make the score 29 for three.

Roy Kaia came in and scored 10 runs before he slashed at a ball from Daryn Dupavillon and was caught on the off side, making the score 45 for four. As Richmond Mutumbami came in, Maruma hit Dupavillon for two fours in an over, but for the most part stuck to stolid defence – as did Mutumbami, who took 22 balls to get off the mark by slashing a four off Migael Pretorius past the slips.

Later in the same over, he miscued a defensive stroke and popped a gentle return catch to the bowler, making the score 67 for five wickets. Maruma had continued to play a solid defensive game, with occasional hits, but now he slashed wildly at a delivery from Pretorius outside his off stump and edged it straight to the keeper.

He had made 33 off 99 balls, with three fours, and his departure at 70 for six wickets ensured heavy defeat for the team, with only tail-enders to come.

Four further balls would have seen him survive until lunch, when the score was 71 for six. The innings lasted less than half an hour after lunch.

Only Mumba put up any real fight, hitting three fours in his score of 13 not out off 19 deliveries – with more support from the other tail-enders he might have been able to take the total past 100.

When Tapiwa Mufudza was bowled by Glenton Stuurman the ball smashed the top off his off stump, which had to be replaced. The last wicket fell when Tanaka Chivanga miscued a hit off Stuurman to leg and was caught, leaving Mumba stranded and the total at a very disappointing 93.

Stuurman took three wickets for 18 and Dupavillon three for 28, while there were two wickets each for Pretorius and Sipamla, all pace bowlers. The two sides will meet again in the second and final four-day match starting on Sunday at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare’s Highfield suburb.