Are these the worst Chevrons?

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE crashed to a 10-wicket defeat as India piled misery on the Chevrons in the third and final One Day International at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Not even the winning of the toss, for a change, by captain Graeme Cremer could change the fortunes for the hosts whose soft belly was again exposed after having started as if they could post a challenging total.

The Indians made a mockery of Zimbabwe’s 123 all out score as they powered to victory, without losing a wicket, in another mismatch.

The visitors are coming from a competitive Indian Premier League, where the majority of their players have been in action, while the Chevrons haven’t played since being knocked out of the World Twenty20.

The opening partnership of debutante Faiz Fazal, who got a half century after scoring an unbeaten 55 off 61 with seven fours and a six, and Lokesh Rahul (63 off 70 with four fours and two sixes) did all the damage.

“I thought batting first was a good decision for us because there was no grass and it looked it would be very difficult to bat on in the afternoon,” said Cremer. Zimbabwe crumbled from 104-3 to 123 all out, at one point losing four wickets in four deliveries.

Jasprit Bumrah, with 4-22, had the best figures for the Indians.

Former Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, who is now under pressure to consider his future in the game, said he was going nowhere.

“That is just rumours, I still have a few more years to play. It is just that I was out (of form) in the last two games.

“It is part of cricket sometimes you are out, sometimes you are in,” said Chigumbura.

The two sides now shift attention to the T20 games, the first set for Saturday afternoon at the same venue.