The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national cricket team captain Graeme Cremer is eyeing a series triumph over Afghanistan when the two teams clash in five One Day International matches at Harare Sports Club, a contest which gets underway on Thursday.
In an interview last Friday, soon after his provincial side Midlands Rhinos suffered a six wicket loss to Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers in a 50 over domestic cricket match at Queens Sports Club, Cremer said while the rain made it difficult for them to hold any training sessions, they managed to make use of indoor facilities.
“It has been quite tough with the rain obviously but we have made do with what we have, the ground staff have worked hard to give us nets there in Harare, we have used Howzat Academy, the indoor centre, I think it has been good, we got these two 50 over games just to give the guys a bit of match practice, I think it’s been good enough,’’ said Cremer.
He is excited with the return of Solomon Mire to the national fold, with the Australia-based all rounder making himself available since last turning out for his country at the 2015 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup staged in Australia and New Zealand. The 27-year-old big hitting all rounder is expected in the country tomorrow from Down Under.
“We think we got a good squad together, there is still maybe one or two possibilities that will still be pulled into the squad, Solomon Mire is obviously coming which is a big boost for us but I think we have a good young squad together that can beat these guys,’’ Cremer said.
When Afghanistan last visited the country in October 2015, they humiliated the home team with a 3-2 ODI series victory and also took the Twenty20 International contest 2-0 with all the matches played at Queens Sports Club. Cremer was injured then and feels that with the series being played in Harare, Zimbabwe stand a big chance of even achieving a clean sweep.
“It was a different story, last time I wasn’t playing then, it was here in Bulawayo. I think playing in Harare will suit us better than them, we have got a fully fit side, the guys want to win, we would like to make it five nil but at the end of the day a series win would be good for us. We obviously are a more experienced team than them, they are very aggressive cricketers, they can beat a lot of teams on their day but they are very inconsistent. With our experience and amount of games our guys have played we’re more equipped to win consistently I think,’’ said Cremer.
Afghanistan A recently beat Zimbabwe A 4-1 in a 50 over series at Harare Sports Club but Cremer feels that the country’s second string side was less prepared and had a number of young players.
“The A team was a young team, guys like Ryan Murray coming in, he has never played any first class cricket before, he is basically a schoolboy, we had a few of those guys, their preparation, they got together a little bit late, our senior team has been together for a long time, a couple of changes but the changes that have been made are good, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about in our main team,’’ Cremer said.
A squad of 14 players was announced by Zimbabwe Cricket last Thursday with two slots left for those who will excel in the 50 over provincial fixtures played last Friday and today. In the fixtures lined up today, Harare Metropolitan Eagles, who defeated Mountaineers by three runs through the Duckworth-Lewis Method on Friday, take on Rhinos at Harare Sports while Tuskers clash with Mountaineers at Queens Sports Club.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe women’s cricket team suffered their second defeat at the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup qualifier when they lost by eight wickets to host nation Sri Lanka at Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo yesterday. Mary-Anne Musonda top scored with 32 runs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 149 in 50 overs. Left arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera was outstanding with ball in hand for the Sri Lankans with four wickets for 18 runs in 10 overs at an economy rate of 1.8 runs per over.
Opener Chamari Atapattu top scored with 58 off 60 deliveries to lead Sri Lanka to victory with 79 balls to spare. Pace bowler Loren Tshuma picked up the two Sri Lankan wickets to fall, which came at a cost of 31 runs in 10 overs.
Zimbabwe, who lost by 119 runs to Ireland on Tuesday before they beat Thailand by 36 runs on Friday now face table topping India in their last Group A match Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium on Tuesday. Prior to yesterday’s defeat, Zimbabwe were third in their group, which guaranteed them of a place in the Super Six stage of the qualifiers. Ireland defeated Thailand by 46 runs which saw them go into third spot while Zimbabwe have been pushed down to number four on the five team log.
The good news is that Ireland are done with their group matches which means Zimbabwe might make it to the Super Six if they manage to beat India on Tuesday but that will also depend on their margin of victory.
Zimbabwe squad for ODIs against Afghanistan
Graeme Cremer (captain), Peter Moor (wicketkeeper), Ryan Burl, Tarisai Musakanda, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Wellington Masakadza, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chatara, Christopher Mpofu, Nathan Waller, Craig Ervine, Solomon Mire.
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