IT has been a magical few days for the Golden Oldies of Zimbabwean sport.
Three men, with a combined age of 121 years justified their inclusion in the Chevrons squad in a stunning win.
Brendan Taylor (40), Sikandar Raza (40) and Craig Ervine (41) were the rock on which the Chevrons built their stunning 99-run win over Bangladesh in their opening match in the tri-series in Abu Dhabi.
However, that win was followed by a crushing defeat at the hands of Afghanistan in their next match.
Taylor became the highest run scorer in ODIs after his half-century helped the Chevrons to their win over the Tigers.
But, it wasn’t only cricket, where the veterans were outstanding. Masimba Mambare, 40, was the hero as Hardrock, who are chasing their maiden title in their debut season in the Castle Lager Premiership, went five points clear of the chasing pack.
Mambare, who was born in the year that Moses Chunga was crowned the Soccer Star of the Year in 1986, headed home the priceless goal in Hardrock’s 1-0 win over Dynamos at Rufaro on Saturday.
Hardrock could go eight points clear, with two games to go, if they beat MWOS at home on Sunday.
Veteran stars – Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona – were the stars as they helped Scottland shock Angolan giants Petro de Luanda in a CAF Champions League game at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Mabvuku side are playing in the CAF Champions League for the first time.
They have already become the first Zimbabwean side to avoid conceding a goal in their first three games in the tournament.
Billiat opened the scoring and then provided the assist for Musona to score the insurance goal.
Both Musona and Billiat have retired from international football, at some point in their careers, even though they also changed their decisions along the way. Taylor also changed his decision to retire from international football.
And, in the UAE, in the first match of the tri-series, he showed he can still bat at the highest level.
Batting at No. 4, he scored 81 runs off 101 balls to help Zimbabwe post 271/8 in 50 overs.
During his innings, Taylor went past Andy Flower’s record of 6,786 ODI runs to become Zimbabwe’s leading run-scorer in the format.
He needed 31 runs to break the record and reached the mark with the fifth ball of the 16th over, bowled by Mosaddek Hossain. Taylor, who led Zimbabwe at the 2015 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, made his ODI debut in 2004. He has now scored 6,837 runs in 211 matches, including 11 centuries and 40 half-centuries.
Flower, widely regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s greatest cricketers, scored 6,786 runs in 213 ODIs between 1992 and 2003.
Ervine and Taylor added 150 together before the next wicket fell. The stand took Zimbabwe from 24 for three to 174 for four.
Taylor made 81 off 101 balls, while Ervine reached 93 off 106 balls. Raza also took his tally of ODI wickets to 100. – Sports Reporter/Agencies
