The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HAMILTON Masakadza ended his international cricket career the same way he started it by hogging the limelight one more last time against Afghanistan in Chattogram, Bangladesh on Friday.
In July 2001, Masakadza scored 119 in his Test debut at Harare Sports Club against West Indies. He faced 316 balls in 388 minutes spent at the crease and his knock helped Zimbabwe secure a draw against the Windies. Masakadza become the youngest batsmen to notch up a hundred in his first ever Test. He was 17 years and 254 days old at that time when he scored that ton batting at number three. The record has since been beaten by Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh.
His achievement came against a strong West Indies side that had the likes of Darren Ganga, Christopher Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Carl Hooper and Marlon Samuels.
Hamilton Masakadza in final appearance for Zimbabwe
Masakadza called time on his cricket career having represented his country in 313 international matches that is 38 Tests, 209 One Day Internationals and 66 Twenty20 Internationals. Masakadza’s score last week of 71 is now the highest individual score by a cricketer playing his career’s final T20I game. The 36-year old faced 42 balls, hit four fours and five sixes on his way to leading Zimbabwe to victory by a massive seven wickets, their first ever triumph over Afghanistan in this format of the game.
It was also Zimbabwe’s first against an Asian side in T20I which also ended Afghanistan’s 12-match winning streak in the shortest format of the game. Afghanistan had last tasted defeat in this format of the game in 2017 when they were beaten by West Indies.
Masakadza’s brilliant knock came after Christopher Mpofu had taken a career best four wickets for 30 runs in four overs. That brilliant spell with the ball saw the lanky pace bowler walk away with the man of the match award. Mpofu is now Zimbabwe’s second leading wicket taker in T20I with 31, four behind leg spinner Graeme Cremer.
Hamilton Masakazda salutes the crowd in Chattogram as he walked off for the last time in international cricket
Even the custodians of the game, the International Cricket recognised the role played by Masakadza and wished him well in future.
“The ICC congratulates Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza for a memorable international career and wishes him all the best for the future,’’ said the ICC.
Mudhara Hammy, as Masakadza was known to his Chevrons teammates described his last appearance for his country as something to relish.
“It was super special. To lead the team to the win was really special and that too in my last game. Also beating Afghanistan for the first time was special,’’ Masakadza said.
Masakadza retires as the highest run-scorer for Zimbabwe in the shortest format of the game with 1 662 runs to his name from 66 innings at an average of 25.96. He scored 11 fifties and his best score was an unbeaten 93 against Bangladesh in January 2016. His 93 not out was for years the highest score in T20Is by a Zimbabwean batsman until Solomon Mire struck 94 against Pakistan in Harare last year. At one time Masakadza had the top three highest individual scores for Zimbabwe in T20Is.
Two guards of honour, a fifty and a momentous triumph over Afghanistan were certainly a befitting end to Masakadza’s international career.
— @Mdawini_29
