Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
SENIOR national cricket team captain Craig Ervine, yesterday conceded that the Chevrons were well below par as they were humbled inside three days of a one-sided second Test against South Africa at Queens Sports Club.
South Africa completed an innings and 236-run victory on the third day to convincingly sweep the two-match series. The tourists, who were put into bat and declared their first innings on 626-5, bowled Zimbabwe out for 220, having enforced the follow-on after skittling out the home side for 170 in their first innings.
Speaking after the match, Ervine said they had intended to use the second Test to rectify mistakes of the opener.
He however, rued the absence of opening batsman Brian Bennet in the match due to injury.
“There were a lot of positives we took out of the first test, hoping to rectify our mistakes but the second Test didn’t go as planned. Lot of work to be done. It’s not easy for the group when you lose your premier opener in Brian Bennett.
“Prince went down with a flu. Myers unfortunately didn’t take his chance. Guys definitely got an opportunity, including myself, Sean Williams scored big in the first Test and if you have to do well, you need big hundreds.
“He is an important part of the batting line-up; the way he moves the game and scores freely against the spinners, still got a couple of years in his legs I hope. The youngsters need to learn from him.
“There are a lot of lessons; the way South African bowlers grouped, we can learn from that. From Wiaan Mulder, the tempo at which he batted, didn’t change too much…we can learn a fair bit. It is time for us to show it out in the middle. Enough has been said, it’s time to put it into action,” said Ervine.
South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder, who was duly named player of the match, said the ruthless victory was special.
“It’s something I dreamt of as a kid. To captain the country is one of the biggest honour you can get as a cricketer.
‘‘I was disappointed in the way I got out in the first Test. Coming into this game, I tried my best, just let the outcome go and focussed on what I could do in the moment. I just want to play, whatever role, coach makes the decision.
‘We go to the subcontinent from here . . . my role might change but I just want to perform. Lot of guys put up their hand . . . everyone contributed in their own ways and that’s good to see for South African cricket,” said Mulder.
