Ahmedabad, Oct. 5: Zimbabwe XI defeated Gujarat Cricket Association President’s XI by 30 runs in a warm-up match ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy at Motera Stadium here on Thursday.

The Zimbabweans scored 236/7 in 50 overs. In reply, GCA XI managed 206 runs losing all their wickets in 48.2 overs.

Opener Azhar Bilakhia (53) top-scored for the hosts while middle order batsman Bhavik Thakar made 37 runs.

Earlier in the day, GCA XI, led by Parthiv Patel, managed to restrict the Africans to a modest total after putting them in. Spinners played a prominent role for the hosts as five of the seven Zimbabwean wickets were claimed by spinners.

The Zimbabweans started off at a brisk rate by scoring over five runs per over though they lost Matsikanyeri for 19 as he was briallantly caught by Bhavik Thakar in the slips off Siddarth Trivedi. However, T. Duffin and H. Masakadza maintained the healthy run rate till 20 overs, until Parthiv introduced spinners Vishwajit Solanki and Mohanish Parmar to apply breaks on the scoring rate. Parmar dismissed Duffin (47, 82 balls) in the 27th over. Masakadza (52), who was trapped by Niraj Patel, was the top-scorer.