daniel chigunwe
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE captain Craig Ervine says his side need to up their game and, crucially, stick to their processes if they are to win their One Day International series against Ireland.
The series, which ends today, is delicately balanced at 1-1 ahead of their decisive third match at Harare Sports Club, which gets underway this morning (9.30am).
That means there is all to play for, and Ervine does not want to see the Chevrons, who have struggled to win a series, come a cropper again.
Zimbabwe thought they had set themselves onto a victory path when they won the opener last Friday by 49 runs.
But the Irish bounced back to level matters with a comprehensive six-wicket victory at the same venue on Sunday.
And Ervine, speaking after Sunday’s defeat, said they would not be looking too far ahead of themselves but stressed that his troops need to give their all on the field today.
“We need to stick to our processes,” said Ervine.
“We need to stick to our plans, try and execute those as best we can, and also stay in the moment.
“You want to go out there and you want to win, but there is a process to winning, and we need to stick to it.
“All we can do is turn up on Tuesday (today) and try and give it our best shot again.
“Hopefully, we can clean up on a few of those areas that went wrong today (Sunday).
“We need to pull our socks up, and, hopefully, at the end of Tuesday, we can say that we were the better team on the day,” he added.
Zimbabwe go into the match in search of their first series win since 2023, when they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in a three-match ODI series in Harare.
After winning Friday’s opener, the Chevrons were on Sunday asked to bat again and were bowled out for 245 runs in 49 overs with Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza scoring half-centuries.
Ireland responded well with the bat, chasing down the target in 48.4 overs, finishing on 249/4 courtesy of two half-centuries from Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher.
Zimbabwe made one change to the team that had played in the series opener.
Trevor Gwandu came in for Newman Nyamhuri.
But with Zimbabwe now on 77/3 in 17 overs, it was Madhevere and Raza who tried to rebuild the innings with a 74-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Madhevere was then trapped in front for 61 runs off 70 balls, his sixth ODI half-century.
Raza, in his 150th ODI for the Chevrons, scored 58 runs after facing 75 balls. Wellington Masakadza chipped in with a handy 35 runs off as many deliveries, his new highest score in the longer format.
Adair was the pick of the Ireland bowlers, finishing with figures of 4/54 in his 10 overs, while Campher picked up three for 13 in five overs. Graham Hume, Little, and Andy McBrine picked up one wicket apiece.
With the ball in hand, Zimbabwe once again lacked discipline as they gave away 23 extras, having conceded 28 in the previous game.
Stirling and Campher had a record-breaking 144-run second-wicket partnership.
Their brilliant stand is now Ireland’s highest second wicket stand against Zimbabwe in ODIs. Stirling scored 89 runs in the chase while Campher made 63 runs.
Gwandu picked up two wickets for the Chevrons. Three T20Is are lined up after the completion of the one-day games.
The three matches are scheduled for February 22, 23, and 25.
Although it might be a weekday fixture, the Chevrons are expected to have a decent crowd rooting for them at Harare Sports Club as they seek an important victory that will hugely boost their confidence.
Online Reporter