adminBlessing Malinganiza
ZIMBABWE donated the ODI opener to the Netherlands who, somehow, against all expectations, ground out a three-wicket win at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The Dutch had looked down and out, with six down and a long way to go, but they were given a way back into the game thanks to some poor fielding and bowling.
“I think 250 was a good total to defend, at some point it didn’t look like we could get to 170. I think our fielding let us down,” said Chevrons’ skipper, Craig Ervne.
“We dropped a few important catches.
“Welly (Masakadza) has taken some blinders before. But everybody is human and makes mistakes.”
Clive Madande top-scored for Zimbabwe with 74 runs in their 249 all out in 47.3 overs.
After 20 overs, the match appeared to be in Zimbabwe’s bag as Netherlands were struggling on 64-5 and 110-6 after 33.1 overs.
The locals connived to give away the match through misfields and dropped catches.
Netherlands’ Teja Nidamanuru played a match-winning innings scoring an unbeaten 110 from 96 balls while Paul van Meekeren, batting at number nine smashed Evans for a maximum off the square leg boundary to get the Dutch over the line with a ball to spare.
Online Reporter