Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE captain Sikandar Raza took heart from his team’s fighting spirit in the final T20I against Afghanistan, despite a nine run defeat that sealed a 3-0 whitewash at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
It was another painful ending for the Chevrons, who closed their home international calendar on a low note. But for Raza, there were positives to take from a vastly improved batting performance that saw Zimbabwe fall just short of chasing down 211.
“It was a monumental effort, and I’m very pleased with the batting today, especially looking at the first two games. I had said that the team demands more from each other, especially from me. The batters challenged themselves after the last game, saying we are much better than what we are producing. We took a lot more honour in our performances today. I think we all needed a kick up the backside today.
“We challenged one another and kept telling ourselves that we are better than what we were producing.
“We said, ‘If you look at the last T20 innings we have played against Test nations, this is not who Zimbabwe is. Let’s just demand a lot more from each other because we deserve better.’ We’re really happy with how the boys responded,” said Raza.
He led from the front with a brisk 51 off 29 balls, supported by Brian Bennett’s 47 from 31 and Ryan Burl’s explosive 37 from 15, which included five towering sixes. Tashinga Musekiwa added 28 from 17 balls as Zimbabwe finished on 201 all out.
Raza was particularly pleased with Burl’s return to form after a quiet series.
“Burl certainly needed that, he has batted really well throughout. He was hurt more than anyone else because he sets such high standards for himself. Sometimes, as a cricketer, you need that pain and that hurt within yourself. The way Burl came out and executed his skills, the skills he is famous for, I’m really happy for him. The country and the dressing room needed that innings from him today,” he said.
The Chevrons will now shift focus to their next assignment, a T20 Tri-Series in Pakistan involving the hosts and Sri Lanka, scheduled for Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17 to 29. Zimbabwe’s invitation came after Afghanistan withdrew due to political tensions with Pakistan.
“We have about a week’s break before our next assignment. In Pakistan, we’re going to have to learn to skin the cat slightly differently because of the wickets and the challenges that will be thrown at us. Watching the recent series there, the dew is starting to come in, and the wickets are starting to change a little bit. We have to prepare better with both bat and ball. We should be very prepared and geared for a very high pace and high intensity series so that nothing surprises us,” said Raza.
Zimbabwe open their campaign against Pakistan on November 17 in Rawalpindi, then face Sri Lanka two days later at the same venue.
They will play both teams again in Lahore before the final on November 29 at Gaddafi Stadium.
The Chevrons last toured Pakistan in 2020 for a white ball series, losing the T20Is 3-0 and the ODIs 2-0. — @brandon_malvin
derick.khumalo