Zimbabwe Emerging redeem themselves

Zimbabwe Emerging managed to win the last match of the series to save face and lose 3-2 to youthful South Africa Emerging cricket team.

The strong Zimbabwe Emerging team convincingly won the last game of the five-match series by eight wickets at the Groenkloof Oval in Pretoria on Wednesday saving themselves from embarrassment.

The hosts claimed the series as they had won three matches on the trot as Zimbabwe Emerging put up dismal performances.

In Wednesday’s match, Zimbabwe Emerging won the toss and elected to field first and the series’ leading wicket taker, Brandon Mavuta put up yet another five-star performance as they bowled out the hosts for just 69 runs in 20 overs.

Zimbabwe Emerging went on to chase down the target in seven overs, finishing on 70/2.

The leg-spinner, Mavuta finished with match figures of 5/26 in his seven over-spell while fast bowler Victor Nyauchi took three wickets for 24 runs in seven overs as well. Another seamer, Faraz Akram managed to claim two scalps for 18 runs in six overs to help bowl out the opponents for the series’ lowest score.

Only one South African bowler managed to cross double figures and that was opener, Valentine Kitime who fell for 24 runs off 45 deliveries. The second leading run scorer for the hosts was Peter Nqaba down the order with just seven runs after facing 18 balls.

In their chase, Tadiwanashe Marumani managed to put his past poor performances to rest as he top scored for Zimbabwe Emerging with an unbeaten 34 runs from 19 balls. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe fell for 32 runs off 21 balls while Tanunurwa Makoni was trapped in front for a golden duck.

The two wickets that fell were both taken by Nqaba who conceded 11 runs in his single over.
After losing the series, there is a strong feeling among players that some of their senior players let them down.

One of the senior players in the team who had a bad outing was the captain, Roy Kaia. The 31-year-old, in four innings, scored 37 runs at an average of 9,25.

He only managed to cross double figures in one match where he scored 33 runs from 53 balls. In the other three innings, Kaia had scores of one, two and one.

Players like Clive Madande managed to step up as he finished as the leading runs scorer with 195 runs from four innings at an average of 65.

Madande has a high score of 81 runs which is the third highest individual score after Milton Shumba (83 runs not out) and South Africa Emerging’s Jordan Hermann (82 runs not out).

Mavuta stood alone with ball in hand, taking 15 wickets in five innings at an average of 16,57. In the first match, he took three wickets, and followed it up with four scalps in the second encounter.

It was in the third game that the leg spinner did not take any wickets. – @brandon_malvin