How the battle was won

DAVE HOUGHTON declared that it was important for Zimbabwe to show their class and the gap between them and their ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier B opponents.

Zimbabwe played well, winning five matches in a row to qualify for the global show-piece in Australia.

Here The Sunday Mail Sport looks at some of the factors that helped the Chevrons qualify.

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Team Spirit, Team Work

It might be a cliché that there is no “I” in a team, but it still remains true. Cricket is a team sport that obviously depends on individual brilliance.

The sight of Sikandar Raza jumping for joy when Sean Williams reached his comeback 50 against Singapore told a story of a happy changing room.

Raza’s delight again when Milton Shumba hit a boundary in the last over against USA proved the team was happy for each other’s success, a quality synonymous with winning sides.

Before the start of the competition, we got to know of Regis Chakabva’s love for golf, albeit through a prank that was shared by Raza on social media.

Raza, captain Craig Ervine and Ryan Burl connived to invite Chakabva for some golf and poor Chakabva was recorded from the hotel room balcony pulling his golf kit. His teammates laughed out so loud and all Chakabva could do was smile.

Perhaps these were the effects of the cold night at Antelope Park, where the team spent time as part of a bonding exercise on their way to Bulawayo.

Raza was a star and it is no surprise he was named Player of the Tournament, as he had“promised”his captain Ervine before the start of the qualifier.

But everyone contributed.

Sean Williams was on fire and the openers Ervine and Chakabva laid the platform for Burl, Shumba and Luke Jongwe to finish.

Tendai Chatara wore his heart on his sleeve, and the dive that injured his shoulder says it all.

Muzarabani played through the pain until his left quad could no longer carry him.

Wellington Masakadza rediscovered his touch to claim career best figures and Wesley Madhevere also got his mojo back with the bat after being dropped before capping it off with an inspired bowling effort in the final.

Richard Ngarava was a game-changer, showing little signs of rust considering his lack of game time.

Kudos to Innocent Kaia and Tony Munyonga, Tadiwa Marumani and Tanaka

Chivhanga for being team players.

And the coaching staff put in the hours in the nets throughout the tournament.

The Dave Effect Regardless of the result, Houghton’s postmatch team talks are always brief.

Some say during his stint with the Mountaineers, he once bought the team beer after a loss, but that has to be confirmed.

However, Dave always believes in a relaxed environment and fearless cricket.

He was also privileged to have his full squad available, with Sean Williams, Masakadza and Ngarava returning after missing previous tours.

Buzzing Queens

The Queens Sports Club atmosphere was electric.

The fans never stopped singing and dancing as the Chevrons did them proud.

This made for an inspiring environment, especially considering that crowds were not allowed during the peak Covid-19 period. United Arab Emirates (UAE) heartbreak “I hope the UAE loss can be buried now,” joked Ervine after Zimbabwe sealed qualification to the World T20 Cup.

This perhaps shows there was extra motivation, especially amongst senior players, to qualify and move on from the ignominy of losing to