The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE missed out on an opportunity to climb into the International Cricket Council Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League when woeful batting saw them lose the third and final One Day International away to Sri Lanka on Friday.
A win would have seen Zimbabwe storm into the top eight, which is a huge confidence booster for a team that has been languishing in the bottom half of the 13-team table since the league started in 2020.
Instead, the Chevrons crumbled to 70 all out for Sri Lanka to win by 184 runs. For a team that had posted 296/9 and 302/8 in their first two matches, their total for the third ODI was so disappointing because Zimbabweans expected the team to rise to the occasion when it mattered the most.
The 70 all out was the lowest posted by any team in the ICC Super League, with Zimbabwe also having the second lowest total of 121 against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club in July last year.
Before they defeated Sri Lanka by 22 runs in the second ODI on Tuesday, Zimbabwe were actually bottom of the log with 25 points and the win over the Asians saw them move to 35 points. Zimbabwe remain third from bottom, only better than New Zealand and Netherlands.
The top seven sides plus the hosts India will automatically qualify for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup to be held India, which makes it crucial for Zimbabwe to force their way into the top eight if they want to avoid playing in the qualifiers.
Fixtures left for Zimbabwe are against India, Australia, Netherlands and Afghanistan. Of those remaining matches, Zimbabwe take on India, Afghanistan and Netherlands at home, with the only away fixture list being against Australia.
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