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Mehluli Sibanda, Sports Editor
ZIMBABWEAN match officials, Andy Pycroft as well as Langton Rusere presided over yesterday’s International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup high profile fixture between England and New Zealand at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Brisbane, Australia.
Pycroft was the match referee while Rusere was one of the two on-field umpires together with Nitin Menon of India for the Super 12, Group 1 fixture.
England won the match by 20 runs to move into second spot in Group 1, New Zealand are on top while host nation Australia are third. Only two teams qualify for the semifinals from each of the two groups, which means there is stiff competition between the three heavyweights with one of them to miss out. Australia are the defending champions after beating New Zealand by eight wickets in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
New Zealand face Ireland at the Adelaide Oval on Friday, the same day that Australia take on the already eliminated Afghanistan. England clash with Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday to conclude Group 1’s fixtures.
Rusere will be one of the on-field umpires with Aleem Dar of Pakistan when Australia face Afghanistan. The 37-year-old Rusere has one more on-field assignment when South Africa take on Netherlands at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday. In total, Rusere had five on-field duties and one appointment as the television umpire at the global showpiece.
It was the first time that the two Zimbabweans have officiated in the same match since the tournament started last month. Pycroft and Rusere have now been to an ICC World Cup together twice, with the first time being at 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup held in Bangladesh. Yesterday was however the first time ever that Pycroft has been the match referee in Rusere’s match outside Zimbabwe. — @Mdawini_29
Online Reporter