Online Reporter
IT’S sink or swim for the Chevrons today.
After crashing to their second defeat, in their opening three games, at the hands of South Africa, Zimbabwe simply have to beat hosts Namibia this afternoon or kiss goodbye to their chances of appearing in the final of this tri-series.
The Chevrons won the first meeting between the two sides but it was mighty close.
In the end, it was decided by a collapse, in the final over by the Namibians, and the heroics of Brad Evans, for the Chevrons to scrape a victory.
After their fall to South Africa, captain Sikandar Raza refused to throw in the towel.
“I think we need to win our next game and South Africa need to win theirs, and then the picture is clear,” said Raza.
“Not all is lost.
“The scorecard says something, but the batters have a new mindset.
“I think we closed out the death pretty well against set batters. The last four or five overs were very special.
“With the bat, some boxes still need ticking. If we had wickets in hand with that score, we could have taken it much closer.
“Our bowlers take a lot of pride in their batting as well.
“We have to come together and play a bit smarter, but still positively, and the tide will turn.”
South Africa, who have a game against Namibia tomorrow, are on course for Sunday’s final.
Zimbabwe must beat Namibia tomorrow and hope the Proteas defeat the hosts.
South Africa lead the standings with four points and a net run rate of 1.386.
Zimbabwe and Namibia are tied on two points, but the Chevrons have played one match more and sit bottom with a net run rate of -1.691. Namibia’s net run rate is 0.325.
Raza came good with the bat against the Proteas but it was a lone battle as Zimbabwe fell and the Chevrons’ fate is now out of their hands.
The skipper went after Nqabayomzi Peter with a spree of hits.
A six from Raza’s bat escaped the Windhoek ground, with the cameraperson doing well to capture it lying on the barren land outside the premises.
Having taken 22 runs off Peter’s second over, Raza kept looking to attack the shorter boundary but eventually got stumped trying to repeat a six in the 14th over.
No.11 Newman Nyamhuri did well to push them close to 150 with an entertaining knock, helped along by some sub-par fielding.
But it was too little, too late. – Sports Reporter/Cricbuzz
