Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE captain Sikanda Raza refused to throw in the towel despite the Chevrons being pushed to the brink of elimination from the Namibia Tri-Series in Windhoek, Namibia, yesterday.
The Chevrons crashed to a 43-run defeat at the hands of South Africa at the FNB Namibia Cricket Grounds.
After electing to bat, South Africa posted 185 for eight before bowling out the Chevrons for 142.
“I think we need to win our next game and South Africa need to win theirs, and then the picture is clear,” said Raza.
“Not all is lost.
“The scorecard says something, but the batters have a new mindset.
“I think we closed out the death pretty well against set batters. The last four or five overs were very special.
“That one over from Madhevere was special, while the pacers closing it out without Blessing was encouraging.
“With the bat, some boxes still need ticking. If we had wickets in hand with that score, we could have taken it much closer.
“Our bowlers take a lot of pride in their batting as well.
“We have to come together and play a bit smarter, but still positively, and the tide will turn.”
The victory leaves South Africa on course for Sunday’s final, while Zimbabwe must beat Namibia tomorrow and hope the Proteas defeat the hosts on Friday.
South Africa lead the standings with four points and a net run rate of 1.386.
Zimbabwe and Namibia are tied on two points, but the Chevrons have played one match more and sit bottom with a net run rate of -1.691. Namibia’s net run rate is 0.325.
Opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius was Zimbabwe’s chief tormentor, smashing 94 from 51 balls in an innings containing 12 fours and three sixes.
He shared a 68-run opening stand from 46 balls with Jordan Hermann, who made 28 from 25, before adding another 86 from 46 deliveries with Dewald Brevis.
Brevis struck 41 from 27 balls as the top three put South Africa firmly in control.
The absence of Richard Ngarava, who will miss the entire tour, and the decision to rest Blessing Muzarabani exposed Zimbabwe’s reliance on the pair.
Kundai Matigimu was handed his T20 international debut in place of Muzarabani, while Innocent Kaia replaced Dion Myers as coach Justin Sammons tried to strengthen a struggling top order.
Matigimu endured a difficult introduction, conceding 29 runs from his two overs, although he later finished unbeaten on 11 from seven balls.
Madhevere was Zimbabwe’s best bowler with three for 20, while Brad Evans claimed two for 33. Newman Nyamhuri took the other wicket as the Chevrons struggled to make early inroads.
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad will not be overly concerned that most of his batters failed to reach double figures after Pretorius, Hermann and Brevis did the damage.
Zimbabwe’s batting response was even more disappointing.
Chasing 186, the Chevrons would have drawn confidence from Monday’s five-run victory over Namibia, when they successfully defended 195.
That hope quickly disappeared.
Ben Curran and Brian Bennett, who had given Zimbabwe promising starts earlier in the tournament, added only 20 from 11 balls.
Curran made four from six deliveries before Pretorius took a fine catch at square leg off Bjorn Fortuin. Kaia struck an enterprising 18 from 11 balls before Duan Jansen bowled him, but Zimbabwe then lost wickets regularly.
Jansen removed Ryan Burl for one with a caught-and-bowled dismissal before trapping Tadiwanashe Marumani leg before wicket for a first-ball duck.
Captain Sikandar Raza finally ended his lean run with the bat, top-scoring for Zimbabwe with 45 from 33 balls.
He was stumped by Connor Esterhuizen off Fortuin, while Nyamhuri’s 27 from 25 deliveries helped give the total some respectability.
Fortuin finished with four for 24 and Jansen claimed three for 21. Prenelan Subrayen and Nqabayomzi Peter took one wicket each.
