ZIMBABWE cricket team coach Davenell Whatmore was all praise for his team after their fighting performance against South Africa in the opening ICC World Cup Pool B fixture at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Sunday. SPORTS REPORTER
Even though South Africa won the contest by 62 runs, Whatmore was happy with the way his team made the Proteas fight for their win, especially during the early stages of both innings.
Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in the 1996 edition, added that the team’s fighting spirit in the game should be set as a new standard for their campaign at the global showpiece.
“Overall effort was good; to play South Africa first up is tough! I am proud of the fight shown by the boys. This is the minimum standard now,” the well-travelled coach tweeted after the match.
Zimbabwe reduced South Africa to 83 for the loss of four wickets after putting their opponents to bat.
They lost the initiative soon after however, as the pair of David Miller (138 not out) and JP Duminy (115 not out) added an unbroken 256-run partnership for the fifth wicket for South Africa to finish on 339 for four.
The Zimbabweans got off to a strong start during their reply, with
(64), and Hamilton Masakadza (80) slamming half-centuries as Zimbabwe were cruising at 191 for two at one stage, looking likely to cause first major upset over South Africa since the 1999 World Cup.
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Earlier during the match Whatmore had said regardless of the result Sunday’s exposure would only work in his team’s favour in the future.
“The potential is exciting. These guys getting the chance to bowl to the likes of (Hashim) Amla and (AB) de Villiers is absolutely fantastic,” he said during a drinks break of the Pool B encounter on Sundaya.
“It’ll do the development of our young guys no end of good,” added Whatmore.
While Zimbabwe’s perfomance against South Africa might have come as a surprise to many especially after their recent disastrous tour of Bangladesh, the team has shown significant improvement since Whatmore’s arrival.
In the warm-up stages, Zimbabwe had favourites New Zealand reeling at 157 for seven, but incessant rain saved the in-form World Cup co-hosts from a possible embarrassing defeat.
In the next match Masakadza scored a brilliant century as they cruised to an upset victory over the much fancied Sri Lankans in Lincoln.
Meanwhile, after the defeat to South Africa, Zimbabwe will be confident of registering their first win of the competition against minnows United Arab Emirates on Thursday.
With potentially tough matches against India, the West Indies, Ireland and Pakistan ahead, Zimbabwe will be desperate for a big win to improve their chances of reaching the Super Eight stage of the global showpiece.
