Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior men’s cricket team have a lot to ponder following another humiliating defeat against Afghanistan in the third One-Day International (ODI) at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
A 2-0 series loss after an even more disastrous T20 series is not the ideal scenario the Chevrons would want going into a historic Boxing Day Test against Afghanistan on Thursday.
That is exactly the situation that Justin Sammons finds himself in, especially after the Chevrons gaffer could only watch
haplessly as Zimbabwe went down to Afghanistan by eight wickets at Harare Sports Club.
Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to send in Zimbabwe to bat after which the hosts were trickled out for 127 runs. AM Ghazanfar and Rashin Khan were the chief architects of Zimbabwe’s demise, sharing eight of the hosts’ wickets and nullifying Sean Williams’ half-century.
Ghazanfar finished the pick of the Afghanistan bowlers with five wickets for 33 runs from his allotted 10 overs, while Khan chipped in with three for 38 from his eight overs
Williams slog-swept Rashid Khan in the 24th over of Zimbabwe’s innings, but the ball ballooned off the top edge for Hashmatullah Shahidi at midwicket.
Shahidi looked to catch it with a reverse cup, but dropped the ball — possibly because of the sun in his eyes — and invited the loudest cheers until then from the sparse crowd at Harare Sports Club.
That best characterised Zimbabwe’s fible batting effort as a lot was riding on Williams’ innings.
The fans did not have much going for them really, since Zimbabwe were 89 for 8 at that stage.
Williams, on 33 at the time, went on to score 60 runs off 61 balls, and dragged his side to 127 in 30.1 overs.
Afghanistan wiped out the target of 128 with eight wickets to spare and 23 overs in the bank.
Sediqullah Atal followed up a knock of 104 from the second ODI with 52 runs off 50 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes on the way, and Afghanistan completed a 2-0 series win over Zimbabwe after the first ODI was washed out.
That result gave Afghanistan their sixth successive ODI series win over Zimbabwe, who are yet to beat them in a bilateral series in seven attempts — the first one, back in July 2014, was shared 2-2.
“Obviously, we have got to look forward to the Test, but I think, you know, throughout this series, we did find it tough,” said Chevrons captain Craig Ervine.
“A lot of the youngsters have been exposed to some quality bowling from the Afghanistan side, and a lot of credit to them.
“I thought they were brilliant throughout with the bat, with the ball, with the spin through the middle.”
On the fible batting display, Ervine added: “I think it’s always tricky because you are constantly trying to evolve.
“You’re constantly trying to get better and improve. You go over certain plans and sometimes they don’t work, I think that’s part of sport.
“But I thought today, at least we showed a little bit more intent, a little bit more positivity. And well done to Sean Williams, obviously his innings today were outstanding.
“We have got a couple of days before that Test starts, so it’s a very quick turnaround for us. Slightly different conditions down in there Bulawayo, we have to get down there nice and early after which we will try and train as much as we can, to work out our plans, and stuff in those conditions.” — Cricinfo/Zimpapers Sports Hub
