Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Under-19 coach Elton Chigumbura is praying for a big change of fortunes as his youth team brace for the challenging ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Super-Six action which gets underway in the coming week.
The Young Chevrons, who barely scrapped through to this second phase of the competition following a difficult outing in Group C, find themselves in a daunting position as they will play five-time champions India and the team that finishes second in Group B.
As things stand, the toss is between Bangladesh and New Zealand, with the fate of the group set to be decided today when the latter engage India in the last pool match.
Zimbabwe will begin their Super Six campaign, most likely against India at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Chigumbura believes that home comforts will be the key rallying point, with supporters expected to come out in numbers as they have done in the round robin matches at Takashinga.
“The support has been excellent,” said Chigumbura.
“All the games that we’ve played, even the games that we ended up not playing, we had good crowds. We just have to make sure that we do something for the crowds and hopefully in Bulawayo we will start well and carry on going deeper into the tournament.
“Where we are right now, we just have to make sure that we win the next two games that we are lined up for. Then we’ll take it from there.
“But like I said, we just have to go out there and play positive cricket and put the pressure to the opposition,” said Chigumbura.
Despite being winless in the round robin matches, Zimbabwe still managed to squeeze into the Super Six stage with the narrowest of margins after edging Group C rivals Scotland on net run rate.
England qualified with a perfect record while Pakistan won two matches against Zimbabwe and Scotland. The Young Chevrons will carry no points into the Super Six and have a negative net run rate.
According to the tournament rules, each team carries forward the number of points, wins, and net run rate they have earned against other Super Six qualifying teams, which means the point they gained from the abandoned match against Scotland falls away.
The Young Chevrons have disappointed with both ball and bat on home soil. They suffered eight wicket defeats to England and Pakistan.
They need to up their game and build on the positives demonstrated by skipper Simbarashe Mudzengerere, Nathaniel Hlabangana and bowlers Shelton Mazvitorera, Panashe Mazai and Michael Blignaut.
India and New Zealand are expected to be equally tough, and Chigumbura has until Tuesday to address the shortcomings exposed in the round robin games.
“I think we just need to be a bit more positive in terms of our approach when it comes to our batting.
“So, it’s something that we just need to make sure that in the next game, the batters are free and very confident. If we can do that well, I’m sure we’ll put even these bigger teams under pressure,” said Chigumbura.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers also need to polish up their game.
Mazai and Blignaut saved the hosts from elimination during the middle overs in the last game against Pakistan. They bowled tight and ensured the hosts edged Scotland in the race for third place with a better net run rate.
“Obviously, our main issue has been having that control and consistence,” said Chigumbura.
“But the only two guys who stood up in terms of our bowling was Michael and Mazai.”
