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Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national cricket team are expected to wind up their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 when they face Southern Africa rivals Namibia in a final warm-up game at the Junction Oval in Melbourne today.
The Chevrons, who arrived in Australia for the cricket jamboree on Monday, have so far played one practice match in their quest to familiarise with the conditions Down Under.
Dave Houghton and his charges were given a timely wakeup call when they lost to Sri Lanka by 33 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
In that game, they tried all the options available to them, including playing 11 bowlers, but still conceding 188 runs before putting on 155 with the bat in response.
Namibia on the other hand were winning by 11 runs against Ireland. The Eagles, who have been rising steadily over the years are likely to give Zimbabwe a good run in the warm-up game today.
The Namibians go into the tournament on the back of some fine performances, which included winning their first ever series against a Full Member when they beat Zimbabwe in a T20I series earlier this year.
The Eagles had a memorable performance at last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in UAE which guaranteed them to start this year’s competition at the Super 12 Stage, unlike Zimbabwe who go through the knockout first round.
Namibia are looking to build on their momentum and spring a few more surprises in Australia. Again, led by Gerhard Erasmus, the experienced 16-man squad has a familiar look to it and will be hoping for more big performances from talisman David Wiese and paceman Ruben Trumpelmann, both of whom played key roles last time out.
Zimbabwe are returning to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after missing last year’s event in the UAE and Oman. They play at the big stage for the first time since 2016 and will be in group B along with West Indies, Scotland and Ireland.
After this final warm-up game, the Chevrons are set to shift base to Horbat, Tasmania, where they get their T20 World Cup campaign underway against Ireland next Monday.
Zimbabwe will take on the West Indies two days later and then round off their first-round action against Scotland on October 21.
The top two teams from Group B will join the Super 12 stage, along with the top two teams from Group A which features Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Namibia.
Eight teams have a bye in the first round, and these include hosts and defending champions Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. They all begin at the Super 12 stage.
Teams
ZimbabweCraig Ervine (c), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatra, Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams.
Namibia
Gerhard Erasmus(C), Stephan Baard, Divan la Cock, Jonathan Smit, D Wiese, Zane Green, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jan Frylinck, Bernard Scholtz, R Trumpelmann, Tangeni Lungameni.
Online Reporter