Zimbabwe Under-19s out to save series

ZIMBABWE Under-19 Emerging will be out to try and save the series when they face their South African counterparts in the third one-day match at Queens Sports Club today.

The hosts are trailing the five-match one-day series 2-0 and a win in today’s encounter will see them claw back into the game as they seek to avoid series defeat with two games left to go.

Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub ahead of today’s encounter, Zimbabwe Under-19 assistant coach, Norbert Manyande, who is acting as the head coach in the absence of Elton Chigumbura, said they have had time to try and polish up their work and is confident that they will be able to grind a result in this game.

He said today’s encounter is critical for them to win.

“We just regrouped, so we are starting to get to it now. We haven’t done great but we are looking to push a lot further in the third game. We have had a couple of days of training and we have tried to fine-tune where we needed to have a look. The guys are up to it, we have adjusted a few things to try and get our game into order.

“This game is the decider of the series, it’s a five-match series and this is the third one, so if we can come back in this game, it means we stay in the series. It’s a big and crucial game for us, we need to stay in the hunt,” said Manyande.

Despite suffering eight wickets and 120 runs losses in the first and second matches respectively, Manyande said there have been some positives that he has picked.

“We have had quite a lot of positives. Kirby Madharamete bowled well. In the last game, Simbarashe Mudzengerere batted really well, he scored 75 runs. There have been some good positives, the guys have bowled fairly decently and it’s just the consistency that is lacking.

“The guys are looking good when they are playing, they just have to master a few tricks in order to complete a decent innings and complete their spells,” he said.

The two teams are using the series as part of their early preparations for the 2026 ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup that will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Today’s game is scheduled for 9.30 am with the other two remaining games pencilled in for Friday and Sunday at the same venue.

All matches are free of charge for spectators and Tuskers general manager, Victor Mhlanga has called on all cricket and sport enthusiasts to make way to Queens Sports Club and enjoy enthralling action from the two countries’ next generation of stars without having to pay a dime. — @brando_malvin