Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Chevrons are riding high, but coach Justin Sammons says talk of a clean sweep is premature as they host Bangladesh in the second One Day International at Harare Sports Club today.
The Chevrons have already landed two blows on this tour.
They crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 85 runs in the one-off Test, then won the first ODI by 25 runs after bowling the visitors out for 116 — Bangladesh’s lowest ODI total against Zimbabwe.
The damage has come from the seam attack.
Captain Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri and Brad Evans took all 20 wickets in the Test and shared all 10 in the first ODI. But Sammons is not getting ahead of himself.
“No, there are no thoughts of a series clean sweep just yet,” said Sammons.
“It’s about taking it one game at a time, one ball at a time.
“That is our focus right now. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves at all.
“There is still a long way to go,” he said.
The Chevrons’ gaffer believes Bangladesh will come firing on all cylinders and expects a tough encounter today.
“These guys are an exceptional one-day team, an exceptional white-ball team,” he said.
“They have had some great performances of late, and we know they are going to come out a lot stronger.
“They will also have taken their lessons, so it’s going to be a tough match for both teams.
“It’s going to be a real fight, and our only focus is on the next game,” he said.
Zimbabwe currently hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, and a win today will see the Chevrons clinch the series with a game to spare.
Unfortunately, the Chevrons are far from the finished product, with batting still an area of concern.
The team’s batting frailties were once again on full display as the Chevrons struggled at 70 for eight during the opening One Day International at Harare Sports Club on Monday.
It took the heroics of a ninth-wicket stand between Ngarava and Nyamhuri.
Their 63-run partnership off 81 balls helped Zimbabwe scramble to what turned out to be a match-winning 141 runs.
The Chevrons’ seam attack then combined to knock over Bangladesh for 116 runs, giving the hosts a morale-boosting 25-run victory.
“I was really pleased with the bowling performance,” said Sammons.
“The energy in the field from everybody, all 11 guys out on the park, and the way we took our chances and kept believing that we could win that game was really, really pleasing to see.
“Obviously, the batting wasn’t great to begin with.
