Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
DISGRACE!
That is one word to describe the dismal performance that was put by a strong Zimbabwe Emerging side against South Africa Emerging in the third one day match of the five game series that was played at the Groenkloof Oval in Pretoria, South Africa yesterday.
When one talks about embarrassing outcomes in Zimbabwe Cricket’s recent memory, yesterday’s 10-wickets defeat surely has to make the list.
The strong Zimbabwe Emerging side, which boasts of players that have represented the country at the biggest international stages was totally outclassed and outplayed by a youthful South Africa Emerging team which doesn’t even have a player that has made it to the national team.
The most experienced players in the South Africa Emerging team only have U-19 World Cup experience under their belts while some of the Zimbabwean players were part of the team that competed in the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifiers and the T20 World Cup last year.
Batting first, a Zimbabwe Emerging team that had the likes of Roy Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Milton Shumba, Brandon Mavuta and Clive Madande were bowled out for a paltry 129 runs in the last ball of the 30th over and the hosts went on to make light work of the experienced Zimbabwean bowling, chasing down the target in just 15, 2 overs without losing a wickets to take a 2-1 series lead. South Africa Emerging finished on 130/0.
Top scoring in Zimbabwe Emerging’s below par score was Tadiwanashe Marumani who, for the first time in the series, managed to put a decent score on the board.
The opening batter fell for 31 runs off 25 balls while Shumba chipped in with 30 runs from 52 deliveries.
The only other two batters who managed to cross double figures in Zimbabwe Emerging’s innings were Madande (22 runs off 38 balls) and Mavuta (19 runs not out).
Okuhle Cele put up a spell for the ages with the ball for the home side. The youngster finished with figures of 5/23 in seven overs while Andile Mokgakane took two scalps for 29 runs in his eight over spell. Siya Plaatjie and Liam Alder took one wicket each to help their side bowl out the visitors for what is not even a par T20 score.–@brandon_malvin
Online Reporter