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AFTER a polished performance in the eight wicket triumph in the first One Day International cricket encounter on Friday, Zimbabwe will look to go two nil up in the five match contest when they meet Afghanistan in the second ODI at Queens Sports Club this morning.
The Zimbabwean bowlers put up a top notch display in bowling out the tourists for 122 in 34.1 overs. So poor was the visitors’ innings that their highest individual score was the 25 runs made by Najibullah Zadran and Dawlat Zadran.
Young left arm spinner Wellington Masakadza was in brilliant form with superb figures of four wickets for 21 runs in 6.1 overs. Masakadza’s bowling statistics were the best by a Zimbabwean spinner in an ODI at Queens Sports Club, beating the figures of 4/38 by Douglas Marillier against England in 2001. Another left arm slow bowler Tendai Chisoro weighed in with three wickets for 16 runs in his first five overs of international cricket, two of those overs not costing a run while pace bowler Luke Jongwe also picked up three wickets for 16 runs in seven overs.
Zimbabwe were never troubled in their run chase, losing just the two wickets of openers Richmond Mutumbami and Chamunorwa Chibhabha on their way to a comfortable victory. Chibhabha top scored with 58 runs off 69 deliveries while Mutumbami contributed 30 runs. Craig Ervine (20 not out) and Tinotenda Mutombodzi (18 not out) finished off the proceedings with the latter slamming a six off the bowling of Samiullah Shenwari to seal off the match with a massive 160 balls remaining. This was Zimbabwe’s second fastest ever chase in ODI as it lasted 140 deliveries.
Fielding was the only department where Zimbabwe were not that prolific with Chisoro as well as John Nyumbu putting down catches which could have seen the visitors being bundled out for a low total.
Left-hander all rounder Sean Williams missed the first ODI through injury as he felt pain on his left groin. However, indications yesterday were that the 29-year-old had fully recovered and could be drafted into the starting line up if the selectors see any need to change a winning team.
Chibhabha, Mutumbami, Ervine, Mutombodzi, Sikandar Raza as well as skipper Elton Chigumbura are expected to make up the batting line up. Masakadza, Jongwe and Chisoro will look to repeat the display they put up on Friday. To complement the trio are seamers Tinashe Panyangara, Chibhabha and off spinner Nyumbu.
Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai highlighted the need to bounce back from Friday’s defeat so as to stay in contention in the series. There is no doubt that former Pakistan batting stalwart Inzamam-ul-Haq has a job to do with his batsmen after that poor show.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Brian Chari, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Tendai Chiroso, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza, Neville Madziva, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami wicketkeeper), Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Seam Williams
Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi, Aftab Alam, Amir Hamza, Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Dawlat Zadran, Fareed Ahmad, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mirwais Ashraf, Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Najibullah Zadran, Nawroz Mangal, Noor Ali Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Shapoor Zadran.
Online Reporter