Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE yesterday made it two wins in two matches after dispatching Botswana by 170 runs at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers at Harare Sports Club.
The win put the Chevrons in good stead to win their group and potentially avoid a semi-final clash against the other tournament favourites Namibia.
Eight teams are currently taking part in the qualifiers with only the top two sides, or tournament finalists, proceeding to next year’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
While yesterday’s win was rudimentary, given the gulf in class between the two sides, it was the manner in which the Chevrons went about their business that stood out.
In particular, Brendan Taylor showed glimpses of the player of yesteryear with a classy century of the highest order.
Botswana won the toss and elected to field after which Zimbabwe amassed a staggering 259 runs for five during their allotted 20 overs.
Tadiwanashe Marumani fell easily and quickly after being bowled out by Botswana seamer Alfred Kgosiemang.
Any chances of a shock were quickly stamped out as the duo of opener Brian Bennett and Taylor put on a massive show on their way to a second-wicket stand of 112 runs off 50 balls.
It was a thrashing of the highest order as the duo tormented the Botswana bowlers.
Bennett continued his rich vein of form taking 28 runs off Katlo Piet in the fifth over. Taylor soon joined in the party as he hit 19 runs off of Botswana’s Bontlhe Keganne in the ninth over.
Their stand was eventually broken two overs later when Bennett was caught and bowled by Dhruv Maisuria for his 65 runs off 33 balls.
Taylor did continue going as he scored his maiden T20 century, eventually ending on 123 runs off 54 balls.
Zimbabwe would end the day on 259, giving Botswana an insurmountable target of 260 to win. Kgosiemang finished the pick of the Botswana bowlers with two wickets for 50 runs, while the pair of Tharindu Perera and Maisurira each claimed a scalp.
Botswana never took off, as they lost a wicket with the first ball of their chase. Richard Ngarava bowled out opener Karabo Modise (0).
It was downhill from that point on as runs were hard to come by and wickets fell at regular intervals.
Only two batters from the Botswana’s line-up managed double-digit figures, with skipper Mounrpux Kasselman making 26 runs off 35 before he was bowled out by Bradley Evans. The other, Tharindu Perera, top scored with an unbeaten 31 runs off 32 balls.
In the end, Botswana wrapped their innings on 89 runs for eight.
The Zimbabwe bowlers will probably feel a little frustrated as they failed to bowl out Botswana with the Southern African nation batting out their 20 overs.
Evans was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with three wickets for 12 runs while Ngarava finished with two wickets for 10 runs.
Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani each claimed a scalp.
Still the day belonged to Taylor.
Speaking after the match, the Zimbabwe wicket-keeper was elated with finally getting his maiden century.
“Overwhelming,” he said.
“I am super grateful to be back in this environment, back in Zimbabwe and around these wonderful people who drive us forward.
“I wasn’t expecting it (century) today, but I was hoping for a contribution and I seem to have gone a bit further than that,” he said.
On the win and booking their ticket to the semi-finals, Taylor added: “I think the timing of our performances are starting to bode well.
“We have been trying to keep our feet on the ground and treat every day, every game as a final. Zimbabwe wrap up their group matches with a game against Tanzania.
The match starts at 9.30am at Harare Sports Club today.
