The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda in Kimberley, South Africa
WHEN Zimbabwe headed to this year’s edition of the International Cricket Council Under-19 Cricket World Cup, there were high expectations that they would do better than they did two years ago in New Zealand.
At the last tournament, Zimbabwe finished 11 out of 16 teams, with a thumping 138-run win over Canada. It was no improvement from the last tournament in 2016 where they lost the Plate final to Afghanistan by five wickets to finish tenth.
What excited cricket fans in Zimbabwe about this Under-19 team was the presence of a bunch of talented kids, some of whom had been to the tournament before. All rounders, Wesley Madhevere and Milton Shumba had before this tournament gone to two previous Under-19 World Cups while skipper Dion Myers went to New Zealand in 2018.
Wins over top tier countries, South Africa and New Zealand in the quadrangular series held in Durban in the build up to the Under-19 World Cup further increased the excitement. Things have however, not gone according to plan for Zimbabwe who can only finish eleventh if they beat Scotland in their last match of the tournament at the Diamond Oval today.
Zimbabwe lost their first two group matches to Bangladesh and Pakistan with their only win in the pool stage coming against Scotland, a team they thrashed by eight wickets. The Prosper Utseya coached lads finished third in the group and were relegated to the less prestigious Plate League.
A 95-run triumph over Canada in the Plate quarterfinals set up a semifinal clash with England. Zimbabwe suffered a 75-run loss to England on Friday with the English, who also had a horrible tournament to play Sri Lanka in the Plate final Willowmoore Park in Benoni tomorrow.
Madhevere, who had picked up four wickets with his off spin in England’s innings, had given Zimbabwe some hope with some good batting early into the chase. He was then run out shortly after getting to his half century going for a second run and his departure saw Zimbabwe fail to reach their target. Taurayi Tugwete, the highest run scorer for Zimbabwe with 58 was also caught short.
On how they will approach their last encounter against Scotland, Madhevere said they stick to their game plan and try to lessen on the mistakes since the team with fewer slip-up s has a chance of winning.
“We just going to follow the same processes , we won’t change our game plan, we just looking to follow the game plan as much as we can so that we do the basics right because at the end of the day the team that has got the less mistakes has got a chance to win,’’ Madhevere said.
After a disappointing ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup where they have recorded just two wins out of the five matches they have played, Zimbabwe will hope to end on a high note with a win over Scotland.
— @Mdawini_29
