Chevrons open World Cup qualifiers with emphatic win

Don Makanyanga

Zimpapers Sports Hub

The Chevrons cruised to a massive 76 runs victory over Seychelles in their opening match of the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Sub-B region qualifiers yesterday.

Zimbabwe won through the Duckworth-Lewis method after the match was called off due to rains in Kenya.

Seychelles won the toss, elected to field and soon regretted their decision as the Chevrons posted a mammoth 286 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

However, it was not about the result, but rather the manner in which the Chevrons went about their business.

Their batters bullied the Seychelles’ bowlers and showed the gulf that still exists between the two nations.

Brian Bennet and Tadiwanashe Marumani led from the front, with the two openers unlucky not to have recorded centuries at the top of the innings.

Bennet was the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with 91 runs off 35 balls, which included eight boundaries and seven maximums.

Marumani was not too far behind with 86 runs off 37 balls, which included 10 boundaries and five maximums.

Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza finished unbeaten 36 runs off 13 balls, while Tashinga Musekiwa was on 12 runs off four balls, as Zimbabwe finished their innings with 286 runs on the board.

Before that, Burl had another worthwhile knock, scoring 23 runs off 11 balls, while Wesley Madhevere chipped in with 13 off seven balls.

The day belonged to the Zimbabwe opening pair of Bennet and Marumani, who contributed 145 runs for the first wicket.

Marumani was first to be dismissed after being bowled out by Mazharul Islam after which Dion Myers was the next to depart for Zimbabwe.

He was bowled out by Thiwanka Rajapaksha for his 19 runs off 13 balls.

Zimbabwe lost their third wicket of the day in the 15th over when Bennet was caught out by Sundram Mohan off a Samarathunga Rukmal.

Zimbabwe went on to lose two wickets in the last two overs.

Jobayer Hossen was the pick of the Seychelles’ bowlers with two wickets for 36 runs, while Rukmal, Thiwanka Rajapaksha and Mazharul Islam chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Zimbabwe could only squeeze in six overs before the rains came, with Seychelles finishing on 18 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Richard Ngarava bowled out opener and Seychelles skipper Tim Horpinitch for eight runs off 18 balls, while his partner was run out by Musekiwa for his seven runs off 10 balls.