Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Chevrons were reminded of the magnitude of the work on their hands ahead of the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournament following a four-wicket defeat to Associate member Oman in their final warm-up game in Colombo yesterday.
Playing just two days after winning their first warm-up match against the Netherlands, the Chevrons posted what looked like a decent score when they ended their innings on 187/7 in their allotted overs.
However, they could not handle the Oman batters, who overhauled the target with four balls to spare and make sure they go into the tournament high in confidence.
Oman, who also beat Sri-Lanka A in another warm-up match earlier in the week, exuded a self-assured approach against Zimbabwe’s top bowlers as they coasted to 188/6.
Although the result may not count for much, the Chevrons will surely have something serious to ponder through the weekend as the two teams are set to clash again in a Group B match of the tournament proper on Monday.
The usual failures came to the fore as the Chevrons’ shaky middle order was exposed for the second time in consecutive warm-up matches.
The bowling inconsistencies that led to their failure to defend what looked like a decent total also haunted Justin Sammons’ men.
Oman won the toss in this dress rehearsal yesterday and sent in the Chevrons to bat first. Zimbabwe made a good start, with Brian Bennett and veteran Brandon Taylor featuring in a feisty first-wicket partnership of 86 runs in just 7.4 overs.
Bennett, who is one of the main prospects for Zimbabwe in the upcoming tournament, cracked 56 runs from 28 balls. His knock featured three maximums and seven boundaries.
Taylor then retired out on 26 runs from 20 balls, leaving Zimbabwe on 91/2 at the beginning of the 10th over. But what followed was a repeat of the script of their first warm-up match against the Netherlands.
Three wickets fell for just three runs in a space of 10 balls as the Chevrons slid to 94/5 after losing Ryan Burl (1) and Tony Munyonga and Clive Madande for ducks.
Dion Myers, who batted at number three yesterday, managed 26 runs from 29 balls and became the sixth wicket to fall.
But he added 43 runs for the sixth wicket with Tashinga Musekiwa, and the score was 137/6 in 16.5 overs.
By then, the run rate had slowed down significantly, but Musekiwa then added 33 runs for the seventh with Brad Evans (11).
Musekiwa provided an important knock as he finished unbeaten on 54 runs from just 28 deliveries to lift Zimbabwe to a decent total of 187 runs.
But the score proved not enough in the end. The Oman batters came out in attacking mode, led by their captain, Jatinder Singh, who retired after causing the damage with 55 runs.
The Asians showed no respect to Zimbabwe’s top bowlers, Blessing Muzarabani, Bradley Evans, Graeme Cremer and Wellington Masakadza, who all returned economy figures of 10-plus.
Muzarabani finished with 2-41, while Ryan Burl, Evans and Cremer had one each. It was also a bad day for Ngarava who returned 0-26.
Their opponents Nepal have made huge strides in the last few years, and the victory yesterday was a testament to the progress.
The match against Zimbabwe was more of a dress rehearsal as the two teams are billed to clash in their opening match of the tournament at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo next Monday.
The Chevrons are returning to the stage after missing the previous edition held in the US and West Indies because of failure to qualify.
The last time they played at the tournament in 2022 they performed relatively well to reach the Super 12 stage, where they lost to Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The structure of the tournament is different this year. Twenty teams, placed in four groups, are taking part in the competition, with the top two from each pool progressing to the Super Eight.
Apart from Oman, they will also meet former champions Australia, Ireland and hosts Sri Lanka in Group B, with only the top two sides qualifying to the next phase.
Zimbabwe have a date with Australia in their second match of the tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 13.
The team will then travel to Kandy to face Ireland at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 17, before returning to Colombo to conclude their group fixtures against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 19.
But the tournament will start tomorrow with the opening match featuring the Netherlands and Pakistan at SSC Cricket Ground.
