admin
Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER fighting their way to a 24 runs win over visiting Pakistan A, the Zimbabwe Select players will be hoping to be more clinical in all areas when the teams clash in the second 50-over game at Harare Sports Club today.
The home side, which is featuring most of the senior national team players, had to fight back with the ball after they had misfired with the bat against the second string Pakistan side.
Zimbabwe Cricket have said they are using the six-match series as part of their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifier 2023 to be held on home soil next month.
Pace bowler Tendai Chatara, who was voted man of the Match after helping the Zimbabweans to a 1-0 lead in the six-match series, said the hosts were happy to get the game time as part of their preparations for the qualifier tournament.
Chatara had a brilliant bowling spell that yielded figures of 5-37. Just like most of the senior players, he had last played top level cricket two months ago when Zimbabwe hosted Ireland for a six-match white-ball tour.
“I was very happy to start off well and set the tone for the series,” he said.
“I played a couple of T20s back home but I have been doing much of fitness work, so I am in good shape. I hope it continues throughout the series.
Zimbabwe national team coach Dave Houghton will be following the games with a keen eye.
He is likely to give as many players as possible opportunities to raise their hands up.
“From the talk with the coach, everyone is going to get a run,” continued Chatara.
“We are going to play just a few games to get ready for the qualifier and everyone will get a chance to play in these games.”
The Zimbabweans, who were last involved in international cricket two months ago when they hosted Netherlands, stuttered with the bat and eventually crumbled on 234 runs after they were sent in to bat first by the Pakistani Shaheens.
The hosts were suffering at 64-5 as Shaheens’ bowlers provided a strong start to their team.
But Ryan Burl put up a fighting half ton that helped the hosts post a decent score, which they were able to defend in the end.
The top order crumbled as Craig Ervine (10), Wessly Madhevere (14), and Sean Williams (20) were dismissed in quick succession.
However, Burl and Clive Madande partnered strongly for the sixth wicket, putting up 90 runs together.
Burl scored 69 off 68 balls including six boundaries and two sixes. Madande contributed 34 off 55 including three boundaries.
The Zimbabwe Select bowlers fought back and restricted their opponents to 210, all out, in 47 overs. Chatara was named man of the match for his Chatara 5-37. Zimbabwe Select captain Wellington Masakadza also did well with figures of 4-32.
Masakadza bemoaned their below par batting performance after falling 40 runs short of their expected total.
“Obviously, we said it in the morning that we did not have to lose wickets in the first 10 overs. That would have set us up for at least 270-300 runs.
“I think we are capable enough to bat up to 50 overs and as soon as we do that, I think we will get to 270-300 easily,” said Masakadza.
ZC arranged the 50-over series against the Pakistani side to help Zimbabwe fine-tune for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifier 2023 that will be staged across four venues in Harare and Bulawayo from June 18 to July 9.
The event will see 10 teams competing for the two remaining places at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India later in the year.
Online Reporter