Zimbabwe Cricket is getting better India and Sri Lanka defeated
After years of having nothing to applaud for, the Zimbabwean cricket lovers at Harare finally got a chance to see their national players winning international matches in the Micromax Tri-nation series. The series has witnessed some of the most surprising results of all time.
The Zimbabweans who were often underdogs changed their image in world cricket defeating test-playing nations India and Sri Lanka, although they could not make the final. No one expected the underdogs to play so authoritatively. Disappointingly the final was a one-sided event but there are lots of positives to be taken for hosts, who faltered only at the final hurdle.
Sri Lanka was fully aware of Zimbabwe’s potential and hence they vigilantly started off, asking them to bat after winning the toss. Zimbabwe put in a great effort to get the necessary start but momentum floated towards the Lankans who came back strongly from their last defeat.
Brendan Taylor, the century maker was sent back to the pavilion early by Dilhara Fernando. The single hope for Zimbabwe to reach a respectable total was Taibu and Greg Lamb’s partnership. At one stage, the hosts were just 49 for 3. Tatenda Taibu’s 71 and 37 by Lamb helped the Zimbabweans reach a total of 199 as they were all out in the 49th over. The combination of spin and fast bowlers proved helpful to wrap up the Zimbabwean innings.
Cricket experts say low-scoring matches are always exciting, but Sri Lanka was in no mood to prove that theory. They came out firing on all cylinders. A century from Dilshan put the Lankans in the driver’s seat. The captain along with a 72 from Upul Tharanga set a massive opening partnership of 160 runs. The Lankans eventually tied up the series by winning the game in the 35th over with 9 wickets in hand. The Sri Lankan captain Tilakratne Dilshan was awarded Man of the Match title while Brendan Taylor received Man of the Series.
Zimbabwe proved they are capable of knocking out some of the best teams on their day. This was commented on by Brendan Taylor, who has reaffirmed his devotion to the Zimbabwean side.He has guaranteed that his team will get its test status back in the coming year and has also added that the political quandary in the country will become normal. He anticipated that soon Zimbabwe cricket will be back on its growing path.
The collapse of Zimbabwe cricket is closely attached with the severe tribulations in the country as a whole, and similarly the relative stability in the country at the moment has lead to the rejuvenation of Zimbabwe cricket. Hence cricket in Zimbabwe acts as a basic gauge of the conditions prevailing in the country. Though there has not been the extensive change that a lot of people were looking for, but it looks like the things are going in a more positive direction now.
Even with the positive signs, it would be untimely to say that Zimbabwe has moved completely beyond its weaknesses - they buckled against the Kiwis just a month ago, and in two out of their three matches against the Lankans in this tri-series their batting or bowling - or both - botched. Test performances matter greatly, and the Zimbabwean side is not quite ready yet to don test whites. Zimbabwe cricket is still fragile, and the team has some distance to go in order to become a consistent test team.
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