The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda in Kimberly, South Africa
A CLOSER scrutiny of records between the neighbouring countries shows that South Africa have won almost all the matches over Zimbabwe in One Day Internationals, an indication that the Chevrons will have it hard against the Proteas when the ODI series gets underway at the Diamond Oval in Kimberly this morning.
In 38 meetings between the two neighbouring countries in the 50 over format of the game between 1992 and 2015, South Africa have won 35 of those with just two wins for Zimbabwe while the other match produced a no result. The first win for Zimbabwe came at the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England when they defeated South Africa by 48 runs. Zimbabwe recorded their second win over South Africa on 2 February 2000 in Durban, a victory achieved with the last ball of the match in the Standard Bank triangular series which also included England.
The last meeting between Zimbabwe and South Africa in an ODI was at the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Hamilton, a match the Proteas won by 62 runs.
Ahead of the three-match ODI series, Zimbabwe coach Lalchand Rajput declared his lads were in Mzansi to play some hard cricket and certainly to win matches. Skipper Hamilton Masakadza yesterday said the fact that they are playing against a South African team without captain Faf du Plessis and the preparations they had in Zimbabwe is certainly giving them the belief they can upstage the Proteas.
“I think it’s a little bit different this time around, in terms of the set up of both teams, it’s a different team that we are playing against judging from the past where there have been a lot of senior guys. This is probably the youngest South African team we play against so I think that’s where the coach is coming from and also the preparations that we had back home I thought we had a very good training camp and that’s also giving us a little bit more confidence,’’ Masakadza said.
Masakadza, nearing 200 ODIs since making his debut against South Africa in 2001 is one of the senior players expected to be the torch bearers for the Chevrons together with former skipper Brendan Taylor who is close to 6 000 ODI runs. Taylor missed the series against Pakistan and is back with other senior players, the left handed pair of Sean Williams and Craig Ervine who will certainly bring stability to Zimbabwe’s batting line up.
Another former team leader, Elton Chigumbura, Peter Moor and Solomon Mire on a good day can certainly produce with the bat. If the experienced players fail to rise to the occasion, there is the exciting talent of Ryan Murray and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe to call upon.
With promising pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani having opted to take up an English county cricket contract, Tendai Chatara and Kyle Jarvis should lead Zimbabwe’s bowling attack. There is also Donald Tiripano, Richard Ngarava while left arm spinner Wellington Masakadza and leg break bowler Brandon Mavuta are the slow bowling options.
From Kimberly, South Africa and Zimbabwe will move to Bloemfontein for the second match on Wednesday 3 October before the ODI series concludes in Paarl on Saturday.
Zimbabwe ODI Squad: Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Murray, Tendai Chatara
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