malvernmugadzikwa
Veronica Gwaze
BACK-TO-BACK half-centuries by Sikandar Raza have left the Chevrons in firm control of their five-match Twenty20 series against Namibia.
They could clinch the series with a victory this afternoon when the two sides meet in the fourth of the five-match series at Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Coach Dave Houghton is using the series as part of the Chevrons’ preparations for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, which Namibia will also host.
The visitors stuttered to an embarrassing seven-wicket loss in the opener.
It was Namibia’s third straight victory over Test-playing Zimbabwe.
As they sought to avoid another embarrassing defeat, the side turned to its veterans, and Raza stepped up to the plate.
The 37-year-old began his account with an unbeaten 82 runs, which gave the Chevrons the all-important win during the second match on Wednesday.
The innings also saw the talisman make history, as his half-century knock featured nine sixes — the highest number by a Zimbabwean batter.
He then added another half-century (52 runs off 36 balls) during Friday’s six-wicket victory, which gave Zimbabwe a 2-1 advantage in the series.
Just like many of his teammates, Raza is coming off a long break from international cricket.
“I went for the Indian Premier League for five weeks, came back, trained briefly before proceeding to Saudi Arabia for my religious duties,” Raza said.
“Religious duties are something I cannot afford to miss.
“I then joined the team in South Africa, after which we came here — Namibia.”
The off-spinner now has back-to-back man-of-the-match awards.
But awards are likely to be the last thing on his mind when he walks onto the park today.
“There is nothing much to take away from Wednesday’s innings; we just had to win as a team,” he said.
“Our backs were against the wall.
“And sometimes, when your back is against the wall, you have to come out punching and fighting.
“The pressure is always there but it was not just pressure on me (that day), but every time that one dons the national colours, there is a lot of expectation and stress to do well and win the game.
“In a way, one needs to accept that this is the life of a professional athlete, and embrace it.”
He reckons the huge defeat in the opening match was “just a bad day in the office”.
“We didn’t have a good start to the tour, but it was our first time getting together in months.
“Without some of our guys, we had to find some right combinations and the appropriate style of play under the conditions presented to us in Namibia.
“We wanted to win from the start; it was our expectation, but, unfortunately, we lost.”
With the Chevrons now looking to be in control of the series, they are set to revert to the original game plan and go into the final matches better equipped.
Expectations are that they will clinch the series. “That is what our people back at home and the entire cricket family expect from us,” he added.
“It is not a matter of just getting game time. Countless souls look up to us and a win is always crucial for us . . . I am driven by a strong passion to win every game for my country and for the fans.”
Online Reporter