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Brighton Zhawi
Are we seeing a different Zimbabwe cricket team?
I think we are.
Zimbabwe’s valiant chase of Bangladesh’s 322 in the second ODI on Tuesday proved there is a shift in mentality.
Reeling at 225-7 after 42 overs, Zimbabwe appeared to have lost the plot, but superb hitting by Donald Tiripano and Tino Mutombodzi left Zimbabwe needing one off the last ball.
Tiripano scored a career best 28-ball 55 while Mutombodzi chipped in with 34 (21) and Raza top scored with 66.
There was significant contributions from budding star Wesley Madhevere who scored his maiden half century, 52, in only his second ODI, a feat achieved also by opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe who scored 51 (70) in his fifth ODI.
In the end Zimbabwe fell short, but the shift in mentality was easy to notice.
They say success is on the other side of fear.
And for a side that has enjoyed “little” success in ODI cricket for the past decade, the Chevrons have a new approach.
“Fearless” is how the Zimbabwe Cricket is going about their business now.
That has been the story since Chamu Chibhabha was appointed interim captain in December.
Chamu is justified as Zimbabwe played 159 matches between 2010 and 2019 winning 37 of them while they were involved in tied matches (against West Indies in 2016 and Scotland in 2018) while there were two no-result matches.
This translates to a 23% winning ratio.
“I feel like the game has evolved and for us to start winning games we need to catch up with the brand of cricket other teams are playing now,” said Chibhabha.
“It’s a process, yes and I want to bring that positive mindset, and change the current brand of cricket.
“We might fail, here and there, and we are not going to get it overnight, but we will get it right eventually.
“So long as we are prepared to fail, so we can get it right, I believe we can start winning more games.”
It is that approach that propelled Zimbabwe to their 12th highest ODI total achieving 318/8 in chase of Bangladesh’s 322 in the aforementioned second ODI.
It’s that approach which a usually sedate or slow accumulator Donald Tiripano embraced and shocked stand-in captain Sean Williams with clean striking in achieving his first ODI 50, a superb 28-ball 55 that almost got Zimbabwe home.
“Tiripano played a magnificent innings this evening,” Williams told EspnCricinfo
“He caught me off guard. I know he can bat. He has always been able to bat. I am glad that he has finally got to the half-century mark. If he had hit that ball for a six, I am pretty sure we would all be elated and jumping around, celebrating in the changing room. It is a good thing for us. Losing by such a big margin in the previous game, and losing by four runs now, yes we lost but we have taken the first step in the way forward.”
Chibhabha says there is another incentive on why Zimbabwe are desperate to win games.
“We almost lost the priviledge of playing this game a few months ago so we have got a second chance and we don’t want to take it for granted each time we walk out on the field whether we playing at home or away we want to maximise on it.”
Online Reporter