The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda in Johannesburg, South Africa
WITH five consecutive defeats on their limited overs tour of South Africa, Zimbabwe will look to avoid being completely whitewashed by the Proteas when the two teams meet in the final Twenty20 International cricket contest at Willomoore Park in Benoni this afternoon.
The Chevrons were whitewashed by the Proteas in the three-match One Day International series and are also in danger of being clean swept in the T20Is, that is if they do not claim a consolation victory in the final match of their trip to South Africa.
On Friday, Zimbabwe, showed some improvement all round, posting 132-7 in 20 overs but that proved not enough on a good batting track with the Proteas losing just four wickets to win the match with 26 deliveries to spare.
Left hander, Sean Williams top scored with 41 and went on to pick up two wickets for 25 in four overs while he was complemented. With the bat, Williams was complemented by Brendan Taylor who made 29.
The Proteas were not glamorous at all but still managed to wrap up the series with one fixture remaining.
One thing that has been the talking point for the whole of Zimbabwe’s tour of South Africa, the top order has failed to rise to the occasions.
Last Friday, Zimbabwe found themselves at 35/5 in 6.2 overs and this is the kind of situation that puts the middle order under pressure. Williams challenged the batsmen to be wise with their shot selection.
“Our top order, we really got to start making better decisions upfront with the shot selection that was the downfall. We have been here for a while now, so there is actually no excuse to keep throwing our wickets after getting in.
With the T20I series also lost, Williams is of the view that the Chevrons have nothing to lose as they shift focus to their tour of Bangladesh, where they take on the Tigers in three ODIs and two Tests. The first ODI is set for next Sunday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
“Nothing to lose and everything to gain, leading up to Bangladesh now, we’ve got to start thinking about the guys in form carrying that form through up to that tour, we all know Bangladesh is a tough place to tour, Bangladesh at home, a lot of top teams have lost to Bangladesh in Bangladesh so having games against South Africa leading up to that tour is a massive opportunity for the guys in form to take it through into that series,’’ he said.
Chevrons coach Lalchand Rajput will certainly expect the likes of Williams, skipper Hamilton Masakadza, Taylor, Solomon Mire, Tarisai Musakanda and Peter Moor to deliver with the bat this afternoon.
The bowlers have just been marvelous, with Christopher Mpofu, Kyle Jarvis and Brandon Mavuta playing their part, only to be let down by the batsmen.
Fans have also taken to social media to vent out their frustrations on the continued selection of former skipper Elton Chigumbura who is clearly off form but has played in every match on this tour.
It is it to be seen if the ex captain is given a run today or Neville Madziva comes in for him. The other change could see Wellington Masakadza come in for fellow left arm spinner Tendai Chisoro, seeing that the former is heading to Bangladesh and the latter is not going on that tour.
— @Mdawini_29
