Chevrons save face

BRIAN Bennett once again proved why he has been touted as the future of Zimbabwean cricket after a brilliant all round performance which helped the Chevrons secure a consolation eight wickets win in the last T20I against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh yesterday.

The 20-year-old Bennett took two wickets with the ball (both in the power play) as the Chevrons restricted the Tigers to 157/6 in 20 overs before he went on to score his maiden half-century to help Zimbabwe finish on 158/2 in 18,3 overs.

The Chevrons skipper, Sikandar Raza also came to the party with the bat, scoring an unbeaten half-century in the chase after four low scores.

The youngster was named player of the match.

After salvaging some pride and avoiding a whitewash in yesterday’s encounter, Zimbabwe lost the five-match series 4-1.

Speaking after the match, Raza said with the close margin defeats they suffered in the third and fourth games, he felt that the win would finally come and is glad they managed to get it right in the final game and return home with something in the bag.

He added that scoring runs took the monkey off his back.

“It’s nice to go home with a win. Like we said in the last three games we were working our way closer and closer to the victory margin. It’s nice to contribute. In the last presentation I came here and said the only jigsaw puzzle that’s missing is me scoring runs.

“If I can contribute towards the succession of the team it will give me immense pleasure and today is one of those days. It’s always nice to contribute towards the winning of the side. I am very proud of the squad and I’m sure these young guns will take Zimbabwe forward,” said Raza.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bowl first. Bennett and fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani were the most successful Chevrons bowlers, picking two wickets apiece.

Bennett finished with figures of 2/20 while the lanky Muzarabani had figures of 2/22 in their four overs. Bennett had Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy caught for seven and one run respectively.

Muzarabani had Tanzid Hasan and Mahmudullah caught as well for two and 54 runs respectively. The other two wickets that fell were taken by Zimbabwe’s all time leading wicket taker in T20Is, Luke Jongwe and Wellington Masakadza.

Mahmudullah’s 54 runs came off 44 deliveries and was the Tigers’ top run getter while Jaker Ali finished unbeaten on 24 runs off 11 balls.

In their chase, Zimbabwe’s opener Tadiwanashe Marumani fell early for one run off seven balls before solid partnership between Bennett and Raza took the team across the line.

Bennett would go on to fall for his career high of 70 runs off 49 deliveries while Raza played a crucial captain’s knock of 72 runs not out from 46 balls. Jonathan Campbell remained undefeated on eight runs from nine balls.

The two Chevrons wickets that fell were taken by Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin. They had figures of 1/9 and 1/55 respectively both in four overs.

It was an encounter that Bennett bossed with both bat and ball while Raza rediscovered his form. – @brandon_malvin