By Ashley Dube
The Chevrons made history following a 2-1 series win over Bangladesh. This was the first T20 bilateral series win over a full member nation in their history.
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| Image - Zim Cricket |
Zimbabwe won the first match by 17 runs before Bangladesh bounced back with a comprehensive 7 wicket win in the second match following Mosaddek Hossain’s fiver.
The decider was a fierce encounter with the Chevrons edging the Tigers by 10 runs following a good all-around bowling performance.
Sikandar Raza: The man in form
Sikandar Raza is in the best form of his expansive cricket career as he was named man of the series following a consistent run of impressive performances, particularly with the bat.
Raza’s unbeaten 65 in the first T20 propelled the Chevrons to a mammoth 205 runs which proved too much for the Tigers. In the second match Raza played a counter attacking following the top order collapse. His 62 was crucial for the Chevrons as they set a competitive total albeit below par.
The final match provided a dent to his output where he went out for a golden duck trying to clip one over short fine leg. To add context to Sikandar Raza’s upturn in form; in 2022, he is averaging 43 at a strike rate of 152.66 and is the second leading run scorer in the death overs behind Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka.
Despite his failure with the bat in the final T20 match he was clutch in the field holding on to two crucial catches, one off the bowling of Victor Nyauchi and the other off Luke Jongwe.
Wesley Madhevere’s inconsistent run continues
Wessly Madhevere started the series with blistering intent like a house on fire with an unbeaten 67; as with Raza they ensured a big score was on the board. He failed to replicate in the remaining matches going out for 4 and 5.
These inconsistent runs tend to frustrate fans and analysts alike, but it has to be noted Wessly Madhevere is one of the classy batters in the team at the moment, especially in the T20 format where he already has 7 half centuries to his name only behind Hamilton Masakadza (11) and Sean Williams (9) on the all time list.
Given his age and the tutelage of Klusener and Houghton the sky is the limit for the 21-year-old as he is set to become Zimbabwe’s greatest batsman in the shortest format.
Dave Houghton’s new approach is working wonders
The new gaffer has placed a lot of emphasis on playing positive pro-active cricket ever since he was appointed.
This was evidenced on two separate occasions. In the second T20 International, Zimbabwe were in all sorts of trouble on 31-5 when Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl recovered brilliantly with an 80 run stand for the sixth wicket.
In the third match, the Chevrons were all in sorts of bother at 67-6 before Ryan Burl and Luke Jongwe combined for a 79 run stand which for the seventh wicket. It was the quickest 7th wicket in T20 internationals in terms of time taken.
The partnership off 31 balls has the all-time highest run-rate in T20I for the seventh wicket. The Chevrons had a reputation of folding in these scenarios but are not sticking to that script under Houghton.
Burl-Mania
The series will be remembered for Ryan Burl taking left arm spinner Nausum Ahmed to the cleaners for 34 in a boundary fest over. The left-hander smashed five sixes and a four in the 15th over, the joint-second most runs scored in one over in T20.
Nyauchi and Evans star impressively
Eyebrows were raised when Victor Nyauchi and Brad Evans were brought into the team in place of incumbents Tanaka Chivanga and Richard Ngarava.
The two repaid the selectors handsomely as the pair got 5 wickets between them.
Victor Nyauchi finished with figures of 3-29. He removed both openers Liton Das and debutant Parvez Hossain before taking the crucial wicket of Mahedi Hasan at the death. Brad Evans on the other hand broke the spine of the Tigers middle order taking two wickets in two balls. Firstly, removing veteran Mahmudullah Riyad for 27 after he failed to deal with one short delivery and he edged one to Regis Chakabva.
Stand in skipper Mosaddek Hossain also failed to the short delivery as he was also caught behind by Chakabva.
The emergence of these two and in good nick will provide selectors with plenty of options in the ongoing One Day Internationals against Bangladesh as well as the T20 World Cup.
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