Chevrons’ bubble bursts

By The Southern Eye | Aug. 19, 2022

Zimbabwe came into the match with their tails up following their series win over Bangladesh recently and were largely expected to put up a good fight, but were suffocated to 189 all out in 40.3 overs after India captain KL Rahul had won the toss.

BY KEVIN MAPASURE INDIA 192 for 0 (Gill 82*, Dhawan 81*) beat Zimbabwe 189 (Chakabva 35, Ngarava 34, Axar 3-24, Chahar 3-27, Prasidh 3-50) by 10 wickets

Cricket super powers India flexed their muscle to crush Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the first of three Super League one-day internationals (ODI) between the two nations at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

That left India with the easy task of chasing 190 for victory in 50 overs and they screamed home using up just 30.5 overs and with all wickets intact.

Vice-captain Shikar Dhawan finished unconquered, while 81 off 113 balls Shubman Gill was not out on 82 which came from 72 balls as India posted 192 runs.

The two nations clash in the second match at the same venue tomorrow where a full house is expected and the hosts will not be deflated by the defeat in the first match as there is still all to fight for.

India’s win came as no surprise, but it was the manner of defeat that might have disappointed the expectant home fans.

The bowling was inept for Zimbabwe in their feeble attempt at defending the low total and the sight of seamer Blessing Muzarabani bowling in the nets might have induced a sense of optimism ahead of the last two matches.

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Captain Regis Chakabva used eight bowlers and none were successful in terms of taking wickets with Victor Nyauchi retaining the best figures where he conceded just 17 runs from his four overs.

Before that the 69 run collaboration between Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava for the ninth wicket helped Zimbabwe to a reasonable score having found themselves on the ropes early.

Evans was left stranded on 33, while Ngarava made 34, one behind top run scorer for the hosts, Chakabva whose 35 from 51 balls featured two boundaries.

India strangled Zimbabwe from the start with both openers Innocent Kaia (4) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (8) falling victim to Deepak Chahar.

Chahar also took out Wessley Madhevere whom he trapped leg before to leave the Chevrons on 31 for 4 on 10.1 overs with Sean Williams having departed earlier after scoring just 1 run.

Williams was making a return to the Zimbabwe team having been absent from the 2-1 series win of the ODIs against Bangladesh for ‘personal reasons’.

A lot was expected of him but he could not make an immediate impact on return. Likewise Sikandar Raza, who was in top form against Bangladesh, was not allowed to free his arms this time as he became Prasidh Krishna’s first victim, caught Shikar Dhawan for 12 runs off 17 balls.

With the star batsmen having departed, all hope was placed on Chakabva, Ryan Burl and to some extent Luke Jongwe, yet they failed to put together meaningful partnerships that could take Zimbabwe out of the doldrums.

Burl fell to Krishna for 11 to leave Zimbabwe in deep trouble at 83 for 6 and at that point even the usually boisterous fans had been cowed down as they watched in disbelief and disappointment.

Chakabva and Jongwe combined for 24 before the home crown was triggered into a collective hiss at the sight of the former’s castling by Axar Patel.

With the score on 107 for 7, any hopes of at least reaching 150, not that it would have meant much, were fast diminishing. Yet after the departure of Jongwe, Zimbabwe’s number nine and ten, Evans and Ngarava respectively, came in batting free of pressure to lift the score to a respectable total. A target of 190 was bread and butter for India, but for the fans there was at least some cricket to watch in the second innings.

Teams

Zimbabwe: R Kaia, T Marumani, W Madhevere, S Williams, S Raza, R Chakabva, R Burl, L Jongwe, B Evans, R Ngarava, V Nyauchi

India: S Dhawan, S Gill, I Kishan, KL Rahul, D Hooda, S Samson, A Patel, D Chahar, K Yadav, P Krishna, M Siraj