Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
JUSTIN SAMMONS couldn’t help but look on with a touch of envy as India completely dominated the just-ended three-match series, exposing the huge gulf that currently exists between his Chevrons outfit and the reigning T20 world champions.
It was a performance — a 3-0 drubbing — dominated by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The young batting prodigy finished as the series’ top run-scorer with 151 runs and a strike rate of 196.10.
The left-handed opener scored his maiden international half-century as he helped turn around India’s fortunes after back-to-back series defeats against Ireland (2-0) and England (4-1).
Now, they are fresh off a 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe.
“I think, obviously, India are just high quality and they showed too much quality and class for us at the end of the day,” said Sammons.
“I certainly feel from a batting point of view, they were really smart about how they went about their business.
“They sort of parked the egos, hit to the space on the big side, and when they got balls to obviously hit for six straight or to the short side, they backed themselves to do it.
“The way they targeted space, ran between wickets, and just the quality and execution of their batting was superb,” he said.
On batting prodigy Sooryavanshi, Sammons said: “He is truly something special.
“When you see him live, the way he strikes the ball, it’s just incredible to see.
“He can go on to create new heights in terms of T20 cricket.”
Sammons was also in awe of the T20 champions from a bowling and fielding perspective.
“Their bowling holds high quality as well, with some good pace and a quality spinner in Ravi Bishnoi,” he said.
The visitors dominated the fielding and bowling departments, with Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav finishing as the top wicket-takers with five and four scalps, respectively. Yash Thakur and Bishnoi were tied on four and three wickets, respectively.
However, it is not all gloom and doom for the hosts, Zimbabwe, as Sammons believes that there are some positives to take from the Chevrons’ performances, albeit in a losing cause, in the three matches.
Among these is a huge improvement in the Chevrons’ catching.
In Tadiwanashe Marumani, Zimbabwe might have found their new finisher, as the 24-year-old dropped to the number seven position from his usual opening spot.
In return, Marumani finished seventh on the top run-scorers chart with 52 runs from three matches.
Only Ryan Burl and Wesley Madhevere scored more, with 100 and 69 runs, respectively.
The trio formed the anchor of Zimbabwe’s batting, more often than not coming to the Chevrons’ aid during India’s visit.
“I was really happy with the way we went about our fielding,” said the Chevrons’ gaffer.
“The catching was good, especially in that third game, which was really pleasing to see.
“It shows you we have got that in us, but we have got to create consistency within it.
“Marumani in a finishing role showed great signs, as did Wesley.
“Ryan Burl has been very consistent in the T20s with fast scores over 20.
“So there are a lot of pleasing aspects around that,” he said.
Sammons, however, did lament his charges’ decision-making, which he believes was the biggest difference-maker between Zimbabwe and India during the series.
“I thought we showed great improvements in the third game from a bowling point of view,” he said.
“The guys were a lot simpler in their plans and executed them, and I thought we did really well to restrict India to under 200 runs, considering they had not lost many wickets.
“However, with the bat, it is the decision-making that keeps letting us down.
“I think the mindset is really good, but then the decision-making in critical moments obviously costs us wickets, and that’s what we kept doing.
“We kept losing wickets, which meant you could never build momentum or take on bowlers.
“I think that was the big difference there — just in that smartness and batsmanship,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Chevrons have been given a few weeks off and will regroup in mid next month.
A planned tri-series in Namibia is currently on the cards at the end of August, before Zimbabwe hosts Australia for a three-match One Day International series in September.
