Zim in uphill task against Sri Lanka
THE last time Zimbabwe met Sri Lanka in the final of a triangular One Day International cricket series, it was at Harare Sports Club in June 2010, a match the Sri Lankans overwhelmingly won by nine wickets with a massive 92 balls to spare.
It is this result which should motivate Zimbabwe as they meet Sri Lanka in the final of the triangular series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo this morning. It was a series which also featured India, a team Zimbabwe defeated twice to book a place in the final. Led by Elton Chigumbura then, Zimbabwe actually topped the log standings with 13 points secured from three wins with just one loss inflicted upon the home team by Sri Lanka who won by nine wickets at Queens Sports Club.
From the Zimbabwean team which took on Sri Lanka in that final in 2010, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer and Christopher Mpofu are still part of the side. For Sri Lanka, there are just two survivors from that final with captain for the tour, Upul Tharanga and pace bowler Nuwan Kulasekara set to meet Zimbabwe this morning.
Sri Lanka secured their place in the final when they defeated West Indies by one run last Wednesday with rain playing a part in Zimbabwe’s qualification for the final two days later. Taking on West Indies in a must win encounter, Zimbabwe sneaked home by five runs through the Duckworth/Lewis method in a contest heavily affected by rain.
Sikandar Raza rescued Zimbabwe’s innings with a fighting 76 not out, shared in a 129 unbeaten stand with Tendai Chisoro who compiled a career best unbeaten 42 to take Zimbabwe to 218 for eight. It was a massive recovery for the home team who were in all sorts of trouble at 89 for seven in the 26th over. With the rain causing an hour delay during Zimbabwe’s innings, the 50 over contest was reduced to 49 overs.
Cremer made an audacious decision to open the bowling with Chisoro’s left arm spin, a move which paid off instantly when Johnson Charles was caught and bowled for a first ball duck. Chisoro wrapped up Evin Lewis, scorer of 148 against Sri Lanka leg before wicket and even though the batsman sought a review of that umpiring decision, it did not help as it was proved that the ball would have struck the stumps had it not struck his leg.
Another left arm spinner Sean Williams made up for his failure with the bat in his 100th ODI with two wickets, getting rid of Shai Hope and Rovman Powell. Ervine also atoned for his poor show with the bat with some superb fielding to run out Kraigg Brathwaite for 24 with a direct hit.
While it had been drizzling for a while, the rain got heavier until the umpires Jeremiah Matibiri and Michael Gough took the batsmen and the fielders off the field of play when West Indies were on 124 for the loss of five wickets in 27,3 overs. Play never resumed and Zimbabwe booked their place in today’s final. His effort with bat and ball saw Chisoro being named the player of the match.
Friday’s win was the first time that Zimbabwe have defeated West Indies since they recorded a two run victory in the Caribbean in March 2010.
A closer look at the records between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka shows that the Asians hold the edge. In 49 ODIs played between the two teams from 1992, Sri Lanka have triumphed 40 times with just seven wins for Zimbabwe with two matches not producing a result. The two teams have met twice in this triangular with one victory for Sri Lanka in Harare while the second meeting in Bulawayo last Monday not producing a result.
Sri Lanka cleaned up Zimbabwe for 154 on 14 November in the opening match of the triangular series and went on to win by eight wickets. What should be a cause of concern for Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak is that his opening pair of Brian Chari and Chamunorwa Chibhabha has failed to give the team a good platform. All rounder Chigumbura was dropped against West Indies with his place in the team taken up by Masakadza who however managed just 20 runs.
Talented but yet to be tested at international level batsman Tarisai Musakanda might earn his international level as Streak has promised to unleash him soon.
Chari, Chibhabha, Ervine, Raza and Williams carry Zimbabwe’s hopes with the bat if they are to post any score to challenge the Sri Lankans or to successfully chase. This batting line up should be at its best to stand up to the threat posed by Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Asela Gunaratne.
Sri Lanka have a solid batting line up made up of Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya and Tharanga. Zimbabwe must come up with a great bowling strategy to deal with the Sri Lankan batsmen.
Mpofu and Donald Tiripano are certain to lead the bowling attack but the slow bowlers should have a massive part to play. Cremer, Chisoro, Williams and Raza make up the spin department for Zimbabwe.
With Zimbabwe in the final, the fans who have been disappointing in Bulawayo with a low attendance should turn out in their numbers to cheer Cremer and the rest of the team as they go up against Sri Lanka.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association chairman Vumindaba Moyo said they have tried to make the final more exciting with the first 200 people to enter the stadium getting in for free while there are also prizes for crowd catches and replica shirts to be won based on a ticket numbers draw.
Graeme Cremer (captain), Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Carl Mumba, Christopher Mpofu, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Donald Tiripano, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro
Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Janith Perera (w & v/c), Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga (c), Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asela Gunaratne, Sachith Pathirana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Jeffrey Vandersay.
Prosper Matutu, Nkosana Ndlovu, Bukhosi Ncube, Adrian Silla, King Nadolo, McCarthy Dube (Chimbadzwa 54 mins), Prince Dube, Brian Banda, Godfrey Makaruse, Peter Muduhwa (Sibanda 75 mins), Honest Moyo ( Daudi 46 mins)
Taimon Mvula, Thonisani Sibelo (Tandi 58 mins), Obert Moyo, Gerald Ndlovu, Munyaradzi Mungadze, Andrew Chuma, Farai Vimisayi (Lungu 62 mins), Creven Banda, Innocent Mucheneka, Gift Mbweti (Kaunda 58 mins), Gilbert Zulu. —