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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national cricket team coach Dave Houghton says the Chevrons should aim to build on the positives they picked from their recent participation in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.
The team experienced a mixed bag of fortunes, with the lack of experience at the big stage coming to haunt them later and stifling a good chance to go beyond expectations.
The Chevrons qualified for the second round of the competition for the first time in six appearances after topping their preliminary round group which also had Ireland, Scotland and two-time champions West Indies.
And at some point it looked like the coveted semi-final berth was a possibility following a promising start in Group 2 of the Super-12s competition. But after getting a point in the rain-affected match against South Africa and then shocking Pakistan in the Super-12, Zimbabwe capitulated to a series of disappointing defeats to Bangladesh, the Netherlands and India and eventually finished bottom of the group.
They were 10th overall, in terms of points, in the 16-team tournament. Despite achieving their target of playing in the Super-12s, Houghton felt Zimbabwe could have attained a better report card. “I thought we did well on the tour to Australia but I do feel that we could have achieved more,” he told The Herald yesterday. “I think, having beaten Pakistan and then, the next game, going on to lose on the last ball against Bangladesh deflected us a little bit and took away a bit of our energy.”
Zimbabwe shocked the cricket world when they outclassed Pakistan by one run in a low-scoring match in Perth. But then they suffered a last-ball heartbreak in the three-runs defeat to Bangladesh.
This was followed by a shock five-wicket loss to the Netherlands, in a game many had tipped them to win and keep alive the outside chances of landing a semi-final slot.
“We were a little bit lacklustre in the next game against Netherlands. Let’s not take anything away from them, they are a much better side than the side we played in Bulawayo, three-four months ago (during the World Cup Qualifier). “But I just felt like we could have at least won that game against Bangladesh and it could have been a very successful tour. But, overall, I was pleased with the performance,” said Houghton.
The former Zimbabwe international, still holds high hopes in his team, which has seen vast improvements ever since he was rehired back in June to lead the T20 World Cup campaign.
Zimbabwe had some outstanding individual performances with players like Blessing Muzarabanni, Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams in Australia.
Raza was the torch bearer for Zimbabwe with a milestone 219 runs and 10 wickets while Williams contributed 155 runs and five wickets at the end of the Super-12 games. Muzarabani was among the top wicket-takers with his 12 scalps. “I think our bowling and fielding throughout was outstanding. We were probably in the top three in terms of conversions of opportunities and dismissals.
“Our catching was exceptional throughout the tournament and I thought our bowlers did a fantastic job, barring the last game against India. “No side got more than 150 runs against us, which is a great achievement on that stage against those fantastic opponents.
“Our batting let us down to a certain extent; it was brittle at times but having said that we still had some very good individual performances — Sean Williams, Raza and one or two chip-ins from Wessly (Madhevere) and so on. But overall the bowling was what pleased me the most,” said Houghton.
Because of their low placing, Zimbabwe will need to go through the qualifiers again for the 2024 edition to be held in the USA and West Indies. But before that, Houghton and his charges are anticipating a packed schedule next year, which is expected to kickoff with a home series against Ireland.
The Irish are booked to visit for three ODIs and as many T20Is. This will be followed by a two-match Test series against the West Indies in February.
“Where do we go from here? I think we shouldn’t look too far in front of ourselves. It’s one step at a time for us,” said Houghton.
“We have had a good last four-five months.
“I still think it could have been better but we are certainly going in the right direction. We have got some domestic four-day cricket to play now and it’s important that the players get involved in that domestic competition and dominate it.
“That’s what I would like to see from our national team players. And then, of course we have got Ireland coming in January for some white ball cricket and followed by the West Indies for a couple of Test matches in February.
“So we have got a pretty hectic schedule in front of us. There are no easy games any more; there are no sides that are weak and others that are strong.
“Everybody we play against is a tough opponent. So one step at a time; let’s play our domestic cricket well and let’s get into the games in January and see if we can topple the Irish team here at home,” said Houghton.
The domestic Logan Cup first class cricket action is expected to return later this month in preparation for 2023.
Online Reporter