Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
IT’S the biggest game for a Zimbabwean sports team in over a quarter-of-a-century – 27 years to be precise.
Forget about everything you have seen in the past two-and-a-half decades.
The Warriors ending their lengthy wait to play at the AFCON finals by finally making their debut in Tunisia in 2004.
The Sables finally ending years of frustration by qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the first time this millennium.
The Mighty Warriors writing their own piece of history by qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
This is the REAL DEAL!
The Chevrons stand on the threshold of glory when they take on Ireland in Sri Lanka this morning with a win taking them to the ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight.
Sri Lanka’s win over Australia yesterday cleared the path for the high-flying Chevrons.
It left them with the chance to seal their Super Eight place, with a game to spare, against the hosts on Thursday.
For a team, which arrived in Sri Lanka with very little hopes of writing a success story, and appeared on the road to disaster after a loss to Oman in a warm-up game, the turnaround has been spectacular.
Dominant wins over Oman and the Aussies, a result which made headlines around the world, has left the Chevrons needing just one win to secure a place in the Super Eight stage.
Not since the Chevrons’ Class of ’99 finished in FIFTH place at the ICC World Cup in England has this country produced a team which has found itself on the gates of glory at this level of competition.
This is why the match against Ireland today becomes the BIGGEST game for any of our sports teams in the past 27 years.
The last time we were in a similar position was when we took on South Africa in a group match of the ICC World Cup in Chelmsford, needing victory to go into the Super Six stage.
Neil Johnson was the star of the show with a superb all-round performance as he scored 76 in Zimbabwe’s 233/6.
Then, the paceman took 3/27 as South Africa were bowled out for 185 in 47.2 overs.
Having beaten Kenya by five wickets, India by three runs, as Henry Olonga took 3/22, the Chevrons needed to beat South Africa for a place in the Super Six stage.
And, they responded in style.
The Chevrons carried five points into the Super Eight and, after defeats to Australia and Pakistan, and a no-result in a game against New Zealand, they finished FIFTH.
It remains Zimbabwe’s highest placing at a World Cup in any sport.
All this came during a golden period for Zimbabwe cricket between 1997 and 2002 in which Andy Flower was ranked the best batter in the world.
The Class of ’99 was expected to compete because of the quality which was in their side.
The Class of 2025 was not expected to beat Australia, but they did that in convincing fashion.
Blessing Muzarabani has been outstanding as the pace spearhead of the attack while Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava have provided great support.
For a team, whose bowling consultant is Windies legend Courtney Walsh, the performance of the pace trio is a fine return on investment.
But, this is a team which has been pushed by the sum of its powers, and not just a lethal attack.
The batters have been contributing and the fielders have been producing some of the best catches of the tournament.
Ireland are familiar foes for the Chevrons.
And, there lies the danger – playing against a team which knows that it’s either it swims today or it sinks. We already have four points – that’s what both Ireland and Australia can finish with if their win their remaining matches.
This means the only way we can’t make the Super Eight is elimination by virtue of an inferior net run rate.
But, having come this far, charmed the world with a refreshing brand of cricket and beaten Australia, we can’t afford to fail NOW.
Surely, not in our biggest game in more than a quarter-of-a-century.
