FROM the highs of beating cricket powerhouses Pakistan to the controversies in opposition to South Africa after which shedding to the Netherlands, who’re the lowest-ranked T20I staff at this ICC Males’s T20 Cricket World Cup in Australia, the Zimbabwe cricket staff have seen all of it.
The five-wicket defeat to the Netherlands yesterday on the Adelaide Oval was an enormous blow to their newly-built status.
Zimbabwe have received many admirers due to their courageous performances at this T20 World Cup. They’ve been concerned in some thrilling encounters, together with the nail-biting one run win over Pakistan and a nerve-wrecking loss to Bangladesh in Group 2.
However this has been some form of a roller-coaster experience for Zimbabwe on the ICC T20 World Cup the place they skilled some highs and surprising lows.
The Chevrons yesterday misplaced to the Netherlands in a recreation that many individuals had tipped them to win on account of their preventing spirit. They put up a flat present with the bat as they had been bowled out for 117 runs in 19.2 overs after profitable the toss and opting to bat.
The bowlers actually didn’t have a lot to work with beneath the circumstances. And, this was all the time going to be a simple chase for the Netherlands, who sailed dwelling to 120/5 with precisely two overs remaining.
Zimbabwe’s batting was their greatest undoing. They discovered themselves in all types of bother early within the powerplay overs after they misplaced three wickets for simply 20 runs.
Wessly Madhevere (1), skipper Craig Ervine (3) and Regis Chakabva had been all dismissed inside the primary six overs. However Sikandar Raza got here in with a 24-ball 40 and along with Sean Williams (28 from 23) they put up a 48-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Apart from, no different batsman managed double figures as Milton Shumba (2), Ryan Burl (2) and Luke Jongwe (6) had been all simply accounted for earlier than the tail got here in. Paul van Meekeren was the chief destroyer together with his 3-29.
The Netherlands’ chase was constructed round Max O’Dowd’s half century after the opener held the innings collectively together with his 52 runs from 47 balls.
Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani shared 4 wickets equally between themselves however the Dutch remained resolute of their quest for a maiden win in 4 video games at this 12 months’s T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine was left to ponder whether or not the choice to bat first was the right one.
“It was most likely a kind of tosses the place we had been break up down the center as to bowl or bat. We form of thought it’s a kind of you don’t should lose however have to decide on for yourselves.
“However credit score to Netherlands, they bowled very effectively through the powerplay, they put us beneath the pump and we couldn’t actually recuperate from there.
“Raza and Williams did very well to form of get us again into the sport however sadly we couldn’t end it off.
“With the beginning of the (Netherlands) innings, I believed there wasn’t as a lot motion as there was once we began our innings with the bat. Credit score to the Netherlands they got here out preventing as we speak,” stated Ervine.
The defeat was positively one thing the Chevrons by no means seemed ahead to, particularly after making a strong present firstly of the competitors and getting most factors in a spirited battle in opposition to Pakistan after which shedding it to Bangladesh on the ultimate ball of one other nail-biting contest.
However the ardour was missing yesterday, particularly with the bat.
Perhaps it was due to fatigue or that complacency was starting to creep into their heads.
No matter it was, the defeats to Bangladesh and the Netherlands put paid to any probabilities of making the semi-finals, which had nonetheless seemed a risk after the primary three video games.
Dropping to the Netherlands, who’re the bottom ranked T20I staff at this 12 months’s World Cup, was a bit unsettling. Chevrons coach Dave Houghton sooner or later stated the Chevrons ought to intention to win daily in opposition to groups like Netherlands, who’re an Affiliate Member with ODI standing.
The Netherlands are ranked seventeenth within the ICC T20I rankings and Zimbabwe are eleventh. The Dutch had misplaced all three Tremendous 12 video games earlier than taking part in Zimbabwe, who now have to battle onerous to complete the event among the many high eight in order to keep away from having to undergo the qualifying course of once more for the subsequent version of the ICC T20 World Cup.
The Chevrons are at the moment in fourth place in Group 2 with three factors from 4 video games. Zimbabwe are set to play group leaders India of their final group match in Melbourne on Sunday.
by Eddie Chikamhi (The Herald)
Supply: www.herald.co.zw
