Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
BRIAN Bennett believes the Chevrons will need to produce their best batting performance if they are to upset in-form Afghanistan in the final of the ODI Tri-Series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE today.
The showdown comes just days after Zimbabwe suffered a crushing 158-run defeat to the Afghans in Abu Dhabi following a batting malfunction.
However, this match-up presents the Chevrons with an opportunity to redeem themselves and to halt a winless ODI run against the Blue Tigers stretching seven games.
Zimbabwe’s fragile top order and Afghanistan’s outstanding bowling attack have emerged as the major talking point ahead of the final showdown.
The Chevrons’ batting woes have been particularly evident in the powerplay overs.
In their matches against both Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Zimbabwe found themselves three wickets down inside the first 10 overs.
Against Bangladesh, experienced campaigners Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine dug in to rescue the innings in the middle overs, steering Zimbabwe to a competitive 271 before the Chevrons secured a convincing 99-run victory.
However, there was no similar recovery when Zimbabwe slipped to 24 for three in the seventh over while chasing Afghanistan’s imposing total of 294.
The Chevrons were dismissed for just 136 runs, extending a dismal run against the Blue Tigers, whom they last beat eight years ago.
“I think it wasn’t a great effort from us batters,” Bennett said.
“When we lose early wickets like that in the powerplay we are always on the backfoot from the word go. Our top order wasn’t good enough and that was the main reason we were bundled out so quickly. The batters didn’t come to the party and we lost,” said Bennett.
Bennett is hoping for a more disciplined approach from the Zimbabwe batting unit in the final, while the bowlers will draw confidence from the fightback they produced late in Afghanistan’s innings, claiming six wickets for 36 runs in the final six overs.
If Bennett and Ben Curran can negotiate the new ball successfully, Zimbabwe’s experienced middle order, featuring Taylor and Sikandar Raza, could be afforded the freedom to play without much pressure.
Zimbabwe will also be hoping for the return of Craig Ervine from injury. The left-hander, who was named Player of the Match in Zimbabwe’s victory over Bangladesh, could be slotted at either number three or four following Tafadzwa Tsiga’s struggles against the Afghan attack.
Despite Afghanistan entering the final as favourites after comfortable victories over both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, coach Richard Pybus has warned against complacency.
“It’s a final, and I think all things being equal when you come into a final, it’s not a league game,” said Pybus.
“We need to play our best cricket as Zimbabwe showed in their first game against Bangladesh that they have got some very experienced players in their side that can put in big performances. So, we have to treat them with a lot of respect.”
While Afghanistan have a decent batting unit bolstered at the top by the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, skipper Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal, who scored a century against Zimbabwe, Pybus believes their spin bowling is their biggest weapon.
Both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh struggled to contain world-class leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who recorded back-to-back four-wicket hauls for the first time in his ODI career during the series.
Pybus labelled Khan a “predator” after the spinner returned figures of 4-17 against Zimbabwe and 4-31 against Bangladesh.
“Rashid is an absolute predator. He has got phenomenal control. He builds so much pressure,” said Pybus.
