Chevrons humiliated again

Chevrons

RESCUED by rain the opening match, Zimbabwe suffered a humiliating four wicket victory with 59 balls to spare against Ireland in the second one day international at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Poor batting was again the biggest undoing for the somewhat new-look Chevrons as they were bundled out for 166 in 42.5 overs with the top four batsmen, including captain Sikandar Raza, contributing just 15 runs in total. 

It took numbers five, six and eight to give Zimbabwe a total that took an aggregate 83 overs as Ryan Burl (38 from 89 balls), Clive Madande (33 from 42) and Wellington Masakadza (40 from 47 balls) saved the Chevrons from a total under 100. 

Ireland might have laboured to victory but they reached 170/6 in 40.1 overs for a victory built around Josh Little’s record 6 for 36 -the best-ever figures by an Ireland player in ODIs-while Curtis Campher scored 66 off 71 balls in the chase. 

With one game left in the three-match series tomorrow, Ireland now have an unassailable 1-0 lead and will be pushing a for double after a historic T20I series win last weekend. 

Ireland and Zimbabwe are now tied on eight wins each from their 21 matches since 2007 with one tie and three no results.

There was a brief rain-interruption yesterday afternoon but it was not going to save the Chevrons this time around as the stoppage lasted a few minutes with Ireland already poised for a comfortable win. 

After winning the toss, Raza shocked Chevrons fans by choosing to bat given the conditions and also fully aware that they had collapsed to 121/6 when rain intervened on Wednesday.

Ireland captain Paul Stirling said he would have bowled and they were obviously happy with Raza’s surprising call. 

After the match, Raza did not look at the decision at toss but bemoaned the absence through injury of captain Craig Ervine and all-rounder Sean Williams.

“Take nothing away from Josh Little. When you lose four wickets for 19, it is a rescue operation. That has unfortunately been a pattern. Just hoping we can get a partnership at the start and get a good total on the board.

“It is one thing not to have quality cricketers like Craig and Sean. I have always said opportunities come at funny times and if you can capitalise, you can have a great career. Credit to Burl, Madande and Masakadza for the way they resurrected the innings,” said Raza.

The Zimbabwe bowlers tried to make a contest out of the low score and Raza was happy with the effort while defending a total, which was over 60 runs below par as he felt 200-plus would have been competitive.

“Lots of inside edges and outside edges went against us, could not have asked for more from the bowlers. We did not think we would get there (to a 200-plus total). I thought if we got there, it would be interesting but we could not get there. They chased it comfortably and easily, despite the bowlers giving their everything.”

Zimbabwe’s quest to draw the series tomorrow suffered a blow as all-rounder Burl was injured yesterday and is a major doubt.

“Burl is in with a 50-50 shout (to play the next game) but it is not looking very good. The doctors are keeping an eye on him,” said Raza.

Stirling said they are getting better with each game and hailed Little’s record bowling spell. “We are getting better with each game. Slightly disappointed we came off for rain the last game.

“That was one of the best spells I have seen (by Little). It was backed up at the other end. Bowling in partnerships is key and we did that well today.”

Stirling, who expects Ireland to come fired up for a series win tomorrow, concurred with Raza that a score of 200 would have been competitive.

“One of those surfaces where 200 was probably a good score. That Josh Little spell was the main difference. We wanted to go 1-0 up and we managed to tick that box. There is a series to win and we will come back hungry.”

Player of the match, Little said the conditions yesterday helped swing bowling, which helped him achieve the historic figures.

“Nice to get the team a win. Nice to have some personal success on a special day for me. The wicket in the first few games did not allow a lot of swing but managed to beat the bat today a few times and it kept the ball new, fortunately managed to swing it. 

“The in-swinger is a decent option to the right-handers so that is definitely a plan. I was quite sore after the spell so hopefully I can get into the ice bath and be back for Sunday.”

Zimbabwe opened with Joylord Gumbie and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe again and they made 15 runs in the opening three overs before Little pounced, getting three wickets in the fourth over as Kamunhukamwe, Milton Shumba and Gumbie fell to leave the hosts reeling at 16/3. 

It was a disappointing return for Shumba who departed for a duck, his first for Zimbabwe across all formats.

Coming in at number three, Shumba lasted just two balls and worsened his ODI record which now reads six innings, 27 runs and a career-best 11.

When Raza fell for two runs off 12 balls, the writing was on the wall at 19/4 and when they slumped to 70/6 with the fall of Madande in the 22nd over, 100 became a magic score.

However, Burl and Masakadza made 63 in 14.1 overs to take the score to 133/7 with Burl’s departure before they were eventually all out for 166.

Seamers Blessing Muzarabani, with two wickets for 23 in 10 overs, and leg spinner Brandon Mavuta (two wickets for 37 in 10 overs) did well for Zimbabwe but the score was never going to trouble the Irish. 

The possible absence of Burl puts Ireland as favourites for tomorrow’s conclusion to the brief white-ball tour.

Herald

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