Heartbreak for Chevrons at the Gabba

Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE heartbreakingly came close in their third match of the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup Super-12 Group 2 against Bangladesh, only to lose by three runs at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Brisbane, Australia yesterday.

It was the first defeat for Zimbabwe in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup. 

Sean Williams fought hard for Zimbabwe with 64 runs off 42 deliveries before he was run out in the penultimate over.

The Chevrons, after Bangladesh had posted 150/7, could only manage 147/8. The defeat against Bangladesh extinguished any hopes that Zimbabwe had of reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup since they have slipped down to fourth in Group 2. Bangladesh are now third, India who lost by five wickets to South Africa is second while the Proteas now top the six-team log. Only two teams from the group will proceed to the semi-finals.

Najmul Hossain top scored for Bangladesh with 71 off 55 deliveries, the next notable score for the Tigers being 29 from Afif Hossain. 

Pace bowlers, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava took two wickets each, conceding 13 and 24 runs respectively. Veteran, Tendai Chatara returned to the team with Luke Jongwe missing out on the match. Chatara conceded 18 in his three overs and did not pick up any wickets. 

In-form Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams took one wicket each and the latter also orchestrated a run out to round up Bangladesh’s innings.

Zimbabwe openers’ struggle with the bat continued with Wessly Madhevere and Craig Ervine scoring four and eight runs respectively while the struggling Milton Shumba was also dismissed for eight. Williams put up a gallant fight with the bat to keep Zimbabwe in the match before he was run out by Shakib Al Hasan in the 19th over. 

A late 27 runs from Ryan Burl could not take the Chevrons through the finish line as they fell three runs short of their victory target in a nail-biting finish to the match. Raza was removed by Mustafizur Rahman for a three-ball duck, his top edge taken by Afif Hossain while Regis Chakabva fell 15 runs. 

Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed, who has always been causing trouble for the Chevrons whenever they meet took home the Player of the Match accolade of the match for his 3/19 in four overs.

Zimbabwe face Netherlands on Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval before closing up their Group 2 fixtures against group favourites India on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. — @brandon_malvin