It took Takesure Chinyama just two minutes to give Dynamos the lead in his first match at Barbourfields in six years before Milton Ncube levelled matters after 33 minutes.

Highlanders – who equalled CAPS United’s 15-match unbeaten start to a season – could have secured a late victory when they were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes, but George Chigova guessed right to block Maphosa’s effort.

Two minutes later, Martin Vengesayi had a strong penalty claim waved away by Hwange referee Hardlife Ndazi after he was upended in the box.

Highlanders settled down well after Chinyama’s early opener with Peter Moyo and Maphosa getting the better of Milton Makopa in midfield, but the instinctive pass was missing.

Against the run of play, Chinyama could have got his second after 24 minutes when he connected Rodreck Mutuma’s pass but shot wide with only Arial Sibanda to beat.

Highlanders, willed on by a capacity crowd, camped in the Dynamos half and the pressure eventually paid off when Moyo found Milton Ncube inside the box and his shot took a slight deflection on Partson Jaure to beat Chigova in the 33rd minute.

Milton Makopa also blasted wide in the 83rd minute as Highlanders tried to force a win, but both teams then settled into defensive positions seemingly too afraid to attack each other.

In the end, a draw was the best result, but Highlanders will be the happier of the two as they maintained a nine-point lead over the defending league champions.