FOLLOWING a crushing innings and 236-run defeat against World Test Championship winners South Africa in the second Test yesterday, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine has challenged his team to step up, seize the opportunity and start competing.
The loss came on day three of the second and final Test match at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
The Chevrons were bowled out twice within two days, managing a meagre 170 in their first innings and 220 in the second, after South Africa declared on a commanding 626/5d in their only batting innings and enforced the follow-on.
The decisive victory secured the series 2-0 for South Africa, who had already won the first Test by 328 runs at the same venue.
Zimbabwe's batting effort yielded only two half-centuries across both innings: Sean Williams' unbeaten 83 in the first and Nick Welch's 55 in the second.
Williams was a lone bright spot for Zimbabwe throughout the series, accumulating 137 runs and accounting for over half the team's runs in the first innings of the opening Test.
For South Africa, captain Wiaan Mulder was the star, bludgeoning the Zimbabwean bowlers for a gritty 367 runs off 334 balls, effectively crushing the hosts' hopes.
David Bedingham (82 off 101 balls) and Lhundre Pretorius (78 off 87 balls) also contributed with half-centuries.
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Ervine expressed his frustration that the team failed to implement lessons learnt from the first Test.
"There were a lot of positives we took out of the first Test, hoping to rectify our mistakes, but the second Test did not go as planned. A lot of work needs to be done," he stated.
Ervine acknowledged the team's struggles with player availability and performance.
"It's not easy for the group when you lose your premier opener in Brian Bennett. Prince (Masvaure) went down with flu, and (Dion) Myers did not take his chance. Guys got an opportunity, including me. Sean Williams scored big in the first Test. If you have to do well, you need big hundreds. He is an important part of the batting line-up; the way he moves the game and scores freely against the spinners — he still has a couple of years in his legs, I hope."
The bowling department saw mixed results.
Tanaka Chivanga and Wellington Masakadza, with both pace and spin, claimed four wickets apiece in the first Test. In the second Test, Chivanga and debutant pacer Kundai Matigimu picked up two wickets each, with Masakadza adding one.
"The youngsters need to learn from him [Williams]. There are a lot of lessons; the way South African bowlers grouped, we can learn from that," Ervine said, emphasising the need for improvement. "From Mulder, the tempo at which he batted didn't change too much...we can learn a fair bit. It's time for us to show it out in the middle. Enough has been said; it's time to put it into action."
In stark contrast, the South African camp celebrated their success, with player of the match and captain Mulder reflecting on a "super special" victory.
"It's something I dreamt of as a kid. To captain the country is one of the biggest honours you can get as a cricketer," he said.
Mulder spoke about his approach to the second Test after a disappointing performance in the first.
"I was disappointed in the way I got out in the first Test. Coming into this game, I tried my best, just let the outcome go, and focused on what I could do in the moment. I just want to play, whatever role the coach makes. We go to the subcontinent from here...my role might change, but I just want to perform. A lot of guys put up their hand...everyone contributed in their ways and that is good to see for South African cricket."
Attention now shifts to the Tri-Nations T20 series featuring hosts Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand, scheduled to take place in Harare from July 16 to 26.
