The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HAVING lost the One Day International series two nil to Netherlands, Zimbabwe will look to bounce back when the two teams clash in the first Twenty20 International at Hazelaarweg Stadion in Rotterdam.
The Chevrons lost the second ODI by three wickets despite a much improved batting display which saw them post 290-6 in 50 overs. Sikandar Raza top scored with an unbeaten 85 runs, Craig Ervine was the second best with 84 while Brendan Taylor made 51.
Left arm spinner Sean Williams picked up four wickets, pace bowler Donald Tiripano took two and another seamer had one wicket but their efforts were not enough to prevent Zimbabwe from sliding to a series defeat.
The Hamilton Masakadza-captained side will certainly look to put their ODI series loss behind them and hope the change in format brings with it a shift in fortunes.
Zimbabwe and Netherlands have only met once in a T20I, this being at the 2014 ICC World T20 in Bangladesh. The Chevrons won the contest by five wickets in a clash where Vusumuzi Sibanda struck a six with the last ball of the Zimbabwean innings to see his team over the line.
Masakadza, who struggled in the ODI series, will be eager to get some runs at the top of the Zimbabwean top order. He will look for support from the likes of Taylor, Ervine, Raza, Williams, Peter Moor and Solomon Mire.
Christopher Mpofu is sure to lead the bowling attack with Chatara, Kyle Jarvis, the left arm spin duo of Ainsley Ndlovu and Ndlovu complementing the attack.
The second match of the series is at the same venue on Tuesday before Zimbabwe head off to Ireland where they will play the Irish in three ODIs and same number of T20Is.
