Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FAST bowler Blessing Muzarabani hit new career milestones, including joining the 100 wickets club in Men’s T20I cricket, following a fiery performance in Zimbabwe’s spectacular win over Australia at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup underway in Sri Lanka and India.
The towering Highfield-bred cricketer was outstanding as Zimbabwe tore the form book against one of the tournament favourites, Australia.
Zimbabwe won the match by 23 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
And, for the second time in as many games at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Muzarabani was named Player of the Match.
He hit a few milestones in one innings as he joined the 100-wicket club in Men’s T20Is while setting a new career best bowling figures with his four-wicket haul against Australia.
Muzarabani is now the third Zimbabwean with 100 T20I wickets after Richard Ngarava (111) and captain Sikandar Raza (103).
The figures of 4-17 against Australia are now the best bowling figures for the Chevrons at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as well as the best figures for Zimbabwe against a Full Member team in men’s T20Is.
He bettered Luke Jongwe’s 4-18 against Pakistan in 2021. Muzarabani was elated by the feat.
“I think I was bowling to some of the best players in the world, so I am really happy it came off really nice,” he said after the match yesterday.
“The good thing is, I saw the bounce was in my favour and I just had to use that. And the wicket was also a bit slow.”
Muzarabani led the Zimbabwe bowling attack with Brad Evans, in the absence of injured Richard Ngarava. The victory yesterday boosted Zimbabwe’s chances to qualify to the Super Eight.
“I believe Brad Evans bowled really well. Richie was missed but Brad bowled really well and then everyone else also bowled very well.
“It’s sometimes hard to know the yorker length but sometimes it just works out on the day. Really good to beat Australia, but also (will be) nice to qualify, so looking forward to the next game now,” Muzarabani said.
He was second on the wicket takers charts at this year’s World Cup after taking his tally to seven, two behind Shadley Claude van Schalkwyk of USA, who has nine wickets and played one game more.
Meanwhile, opening batsman Brian Bennett also inscribed his name into the record books with an unbeaten half century that anchored Zimbabwe’s innings against Australia after being sent in to bat first.
Bennett scored a calm 64 runs from 56 balls and is now Zimbabwe’s fourth Highest run scorer in T20I cricket after surpassing Hamilton Masakadza.
The 22-year-old has now amassed 1 708 runs from 54 innings, at an impressive average of 34.16 and a strike rate of 143.65. Bennett bagged his 10th half century yesterday and is among the few Zimbabwean players that have scored a ton in T20I cricket.
Sikandar Raza, who is also the current world number one all-rounder, is presently the Chevrons’ leading run scorer with 2 913 runs, followed by Ryan Burl (1 920) and retired all-rounder Sean Williams (1 805).
