adminSibanda’s unbeaten 103 off a 109 run fourth wicket partnership with Sean Williams secured a sweet virctiory that sent the fans at Queens SPorts CLub into jubilation.
He sealed his second ODI ton off the last ball that went for a four to set up Zimbabwe’s win and help the Chevrons clinch the three game ODI series 2-1.
It was not only a historic day for Sibanda as stand in coach Steve Mangongo became the first black coach to win a format series with the national cricket side having drawn 1-1 in the Test against the same side in Harare two weeks ago.
But all the attention was on Sibanda who deservedly won the man-of-the-match award and also took the man-of-the-series mantle.
His opening partnership with Hamilton Masakadza also became Zimbabwe’s first 50-plus opening stand since September 2011.
Sibanda went through a number of partnerships but maintained his calm to reach his milestone — thanks too to the innovation of Sean Williams.
The opening batsman was stuck on 99 for an over when Williams hit a boundary with five runs required, but Williams blocked and ducked the next five deliveries to gave his partner the chance to get to his milestone and he did with a four, to move to 103 off 135 balls.
“I was really under a lot of pressure to get that single run.
“I would like to thank Sean who supported me to get that milestone because he really waited to give me a chance to have that 100 something I had been waiting for a for a long time.
“But at the end of the day it felt good to hit the century, but it was not just me, all other guys have worked with me to help me get here.
“The wicket was a bit of hard work, it was not easy to score.
“Credit to the Bangladesh bowlers.,” said Sibanda.
Williams added that it was all in the true spirit of team play that he let Sibanda achieve his feat.
“I was there to just support Vusi today, sweep shot and running between the wickets turned it around for us,” said Williams who finished with an unbeaten 55.
While it was all joy and jubilation for Zimbabwe, it was all but a different story for the tourists whose captain Mushfiqur Rahim announced without being questioned at the end of the press conference that this would be his last tour as captain of Bangladesh.
“I just have one thing to add before we finish, I will be stepping down as captain after the last two (T20) matches.
“I believe that I couldn’t lead my team, and I didn’t score enough runs. That is why I think we lost the ODI series.”
“It’s not easy to beat Zimbabwe in their home conditions.
“But Zimbabwe bowled really well and I lost all the tosses.
“There are couple of positives — Nasir has been playing well, Mahmudullah also came back to form.
“Ziaur (Rahman) bowled well too.”
However, his Zimbabwean counterpart Brendan Taylor saluted his charges for a job well done saying they showed a lot of character coming back 1-0 down to win the series in front of their home crowd.
“Just to come back after the loss in the first game, it shows a lot of character.
“All credit to the team, we are heading in the right direction.
“Vusi is rated very highly and it is seven years after he scored his first hundred. Credit to the entire team really. Vitori is swinging the ball and bowling at pace, so it’s nice to have him back in the team.”
Sibanda and Mahmudullah also got an award for hitting two sixes each while Brian Vitori was named the smart player of the day on his return to international cricket since February 2012.
Online Reporter