T20 World Cup 2022: Zimbabwe's report card
T20 World Cup 2022 | ZIM vs IRE: Zimbabwe prove their domination against Ireland
Zimbabwe pull a rabbit out of their hat as Ngarava defends six in last over to beat Ireland
ZIM vs BAN | Wessley Madhevere, Masakadza help the hosts level T20I series with scintillating win
Going into the second T20I, the Zimbabwe team were under huge pressure having lost the one-off Test, being whitewashed in the ODI series 3-0 and then humbled in the first T20I by eight wickets. But credit to their belief and skills on display on Friday, July 23 at the Harare Sports Club, Harare that they came out triumphant and managed to level the series and gave themselves hope to win the shortest format of the three format Bangladesh’s tour of their nation. Wessley Madhevere was the star of the show for the hosts as he hit his third fifty and highest individual T20I score of 73 from 57 balls to take Zimbabwe to a total of 166 in the 20 overs. But along with Madhevere, the Zimbabwean bowlers were superb as well with Wellington Masakadza and Blessing Muzarabani making inroads into the Bangladesh innings and in the end getting them all out for 143 and winning the game by 23 runs. The Bangladeshi chase didn’t start well at all with both the openers, their heroes from the last game getting dismissed in the third over of the innings by Muzarabani. Once Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar were dismissed, the bowlers in Red and Gold got bold and started attacking, even more, eventually removing Shakib Al Hasan, skipperMahmudullah and big-hitting Mahedi Hasan even before the team score touched 70. Nurul Hasan, another of the cameo players from the last two games could not do much either. Debutant Shamim Hossain Patwari and Afif Hossain tried to make chase out of an otherwise disappointing effort till then. Patwarihit same gleeful and extraordinary shops for a 20-year-old, leaving up to his selection on the basis of the Dhaka PremnierLeaguie performances. However one shot too many meant that the 23 balls 41 runs partnership was brought to an end by Luke Jongwe as Patwari departed for 29 off 12 balls. At 109-7, the game was still alive as Mohammad Sifudiin, a proven talent with the bat joined Afif who had already starred with the bat in two of Bangladesh’s ODIs wins so far. But it wasn’t simply his day as he was caught at the deep fine leg by Milton Shumba off a short ball by Tendai Chatara. The formalities were then completed by Jongwe as he picked two wickets in the last over and got his side to a much-needed win. Earlier in the day, after winning the toss, Zimbabwe skipper SikanderRaza won the toss and decided to bat first. And even after Regis Chakabva, Tadiwanashe Marumani and skipper Raza failing himself, Madhever with the help of Dion Myers in the middle and some late blows oi Ryan Burl took their team to a defendable total. The 20-year-old right-hander was eventually awarded man of the match for his brilliant innings. Reacting to the win, the Zimbabwe skipper Raza said, “Today we managed to tick a lot more boxes than we managed yesterday. I would have taken 166 at the start of the match and with a young squad, it gives us confidence.” The 35-year-old, 105 ODIs veteran further hoped that the team will stick to the plan in the final game as well. “We back ourselves to defend... Blessing listened to the team plan... and hopefully, we all listen to the team plan for the final game!" On the other hand, Mahmudullah was disappointed with his team’s effort and said, “We didn't have a good partnership and missed a few chances in the field. We need to look into those areas and come back stronger." The two teams meet next on Sunday, July 25 for the final match of the tour as well as the series.
Luke Jongwe removes Mehidy Hasan & Afif Hossain as Chakabva does a Dhoni to help Zimbabwe record team hattrick
It was going all nicely for Bangladesh until; the 49th over in their clash against Zimbabwe in the first of the three-match ODI series at Harare Sports Club. But in the 49th over by Luke Jongwe, they lost three wickets in a row, helping the hosts record a team hattrick. Jongwe, after being hit for a six on the second ball of his overcame back strong and got the six-hitter Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught at the deep extra cover on the third delivery. Afif Hossain, who went on strike as the batters had crossed while the catch was taken, tried to play a scoop over fine leg and in response exposed his wickets which were hit with a bull’s eye by the 26-year-old bowler. On a hattrick, the right arm pacer bowled a wide down the leg to Taskin Ahmed. In his next attempt, Jongwe bowled a full-length delivery on the legs which was dragged down to deep square leg by Ahmed. The batsmen ran two but a brilliant piece of work by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva had Ahmed short of his ground before the bails were broken. The run-out dismissal was Dhnisque in ways more than one. First of all, Chakabva received a throw that was way off the mark and the 33-year-old wicket-keeper picked it and without even looking at the stumps, hit the woodwork with the ball passing through his legs. And suddenly from 265-6, they were 266-8. Earlier, after being asked to bat by Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor, who was playing his 200th ODI game, Bangladesh didn’t have a good start. They lost their skipperTamim who went out without disturbing the scorers and thereby achieved a feat which he wouldn’t want on his CV. Iqbal with this duck now has most ducks for a Bangladeshi batter (34 in total) across formats and he surpassed his predecessor as Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza who has 33 ducks to his kitty. Other batters including star performer Shakib Al Hasan couldn’t do much either as the Tigers slumped to 74-4. It then took a combined effort from the centurions from the Test a week ago, Mahmudullah and Liton Das to stage another recovery for their team. The duo added 93 for the fifth wicket. While Mahmudullah was out for a mere 33, 26-year-old Das went on to score his fourth ODI hundred. He made 102 of 114 balls. But his wicket in the 42nd over with the Bangladesh score at 207, but the hosts in a spot of bother before Afif and Mehidy combined to get them to a respectable total. While Afif scored 45, the number two ranked ODI bowler Mehidy scored 25 balls 26.
Luke Jongwe rewarded as Zimbabwe announce Test squad for Pakistan series
Zimbabwe rewarded their fast bowling all-rounder Luke Jongwe for his brilliant performance in the recently concluded T20I series against Pakistan, by including him in the 16-man squad to face the same opponent in a two-match Test series. Jongwe, 26, picked up nine wickets in the three T20Is including the best figures of 4-18 in a game which Zimbabwe won by rolling over Pakistan for 99. Along with Jongwe, four other uncapped Test players including Richard Ngarava, Roy Kaia, Milton Shumba and Tanaka Chivanga have been called up for the series that starts on April 29 with the first Test at the Harare Sports Club. While Brendan Taylor, the experienced wicket-keeper batsman and former skipper has made a comeback, Craig Ervine continues to miss out because of a calf injury. From the previous tour of Zimbabwe, there are many omissions which include injured Sikandar Raza. Ryan Burl, Wesley Madhevere, Richmond Mutumbami, and Brandon Mavuta are the others to miss out on a berth in the side. Zimbabwe's Test squad Sean Williams (capt), Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chisoro, Tanaka Chivanga, Luke Jongwe, Roy Kaia, Kevin Kasuza, Wellington Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Tarisai Musakanda, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Milton Shumba, Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano
Hasan Ali, Rizwan put off Wesley Madhevere scare as Pakistan clinch the T20I series
Zimbabwe opener Wesley Madhevere, till the time he was in the middle, has his and team’s hopes high about chasing down Pakistan’s 165 in the 20 overs to win the series decider at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. However, it wasn’t to be as a fine spell of bowling from Hasan Ali ensured that the Chevrons remained 34 short of the target as Pakistan completed a 2-1 series victory with the win the third and final game. Chasing 166, Zimbabwe started well with the opening pair adding a quick 37 for the first wicket. It was followed by a 51 ball 65 runs stand for the second wicket between Madhevere and youngster Tadiwanashe Marumani. However, once Marumani was removed by Mohammad Hasnain, it didn’t take much time for Hasan Ali to wreak havoc, removing first the settled Madhevere and then wicket-keeper batsman Regis Chakabva to let Zimbabwe reel at 110-4 with 56 needed from 25 balls. It became increasingly difficult for the men in red to go for the target as wickets fell at regular intervals. The team could only get up to 141 at the loss of seven wickets in their full quota of 20 overs thanks to 20 run innings from Brendon Taylor. Apart from Ali’s four wickets, Haris Rauf removed two men as well while one wicket was taken by Hasnain. Earlier in the day, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first. Babar, on his way to 46 balls 52, became the fastest batsman to reach 2000 T20I runs, taking only 52 innings to reach the milestone, four less than Indian skipper Virat Kohli. However, it was once again Mohammad Rizwan’s 60 balls 91 that pushed Pakistan to 165 in 20 overs. Luke Jongwe, who picked up all three wickets that fell in the Pakistan innings was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe. The 26-year-old all-rounder finished with nine wickets in the entire tournament, the most for any bowler from both sides. While Hasan Ali won the Man of the Match award for his 4-18 match-winning performance, Mohmmad Rizwan was declared Man of the Series for his historic 186 runs in the tournament at an average of 186.
Luke Jongwe’s all-round effort goes in vain as Rizwan, Qadir shine in Pakistan victory
Pakistan continued from what they had left in South Africa as they started their Zimbabwe tour with a win in the first of the three T20Is at Harare Sports Club. Riding on vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 82 off 61 balls, the bowlers put in a resurgent effort to avoid a defeat at the hands of the opponent against whom they have not lost a single T20I game in their 14 meetings. Usman Qadir was the pick of the bowlers for the men in green with his match-winning efforts of 3-22. Zimbabwe started their chase of a modest 150 on a positive note with openers scoring 20 runs in the first two overs. But the opening stand couldn’t flourish much as speedster Mohammad Hasnain got Wesely Madhevere caught by skipper Babar Azam. Debutant Tadiwanashe Marumani followed suit on the very next ball, with Babar and Hasnain repeating bot their efforts. Craig Ervine, who was making his comeback into the side then got into a partnership with opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and added 56 runs in 48 balls. Veteran Mohammad Hafeez broke the partnership with his part-time off-spin by removing Kamunhukamwe. Qadir removed Ervine in the very next over and the chase got difficult for the Zimbabweans, even though skipper Sean Williams and all-rounder Ryan burl were present at the crease. Haris Rauf and Qadir then paired up to remove skipper Williams and wicket-keeper batsman Regis Chakabva to put the Chevrons in all sorts of bother at 95-6 at the end of the 14th over. With 55 required from the last six, Luke Jongwe, who had bowled brilliantly joined Burl and the two took the scorecard to 122. But with Burl getting removed from the last ball of the 18th, it was too much to do for Jongwe with 28 needed from the last two and no player with batting credentials to accompany him. In the end, the Zimbabwe team could only manage to get to 138, eventually losing the game by 11 runs. Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe had won the toss and sent in Pakistan to bat first. The Men in Green didn’t have a good start as Word no. 2 T20I batsmen and Babar was removed easily by Blessing Muzarabani. No one other than Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman and Danis Aziz entered the double figures for Pakistan even as the team got to 149. Hadn’t it been for Rizwan’s 5th T20I fifty, Pakistan were looking down the barrel without much hope. The two teams would now face each other in the second game on April 23 at the same venue.
Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine comeback to Zimbabwe T20I squad to be led by Sean Williams against Pakistan
Two experienced players in Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine have made a comeback into the Zimbabwe T20I set up for the upcoming three-match home series against visiting Pakistan. Both these players missed the T20I series against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi but were part of Zimbabwe's tour of the Paak nation in November 2020. Sean Williamson, 34, would continue to lead the side in absence of their regular white-ball captain Chamu Chibhabha. The right-hander batting all-rounder has been ruled out with a thigh injury since February. There have been three uncapped players named in the squad including batter Tadiwanashe Marumani, fast bowler Tanaka Chivanga and offspinner Tapiwa Mufudza. All three of them have been in great touch in the recent domestic season in the Logan Cup, the First Class competition as well as the domestic T20 competition. There is another man’s entry into the side which is surprising and that is of 26-year-old Luke Jongwe. The all-rounder last played a game for the Chevrons in 2016 as a teenager. Primarily a bowler, Jongwe has taken 32 wickets and scored 296 runs in 22 ODIs and eight T20Is combined. The T20 series begins with the first of the three games at the Harare Sports Club on April 21st. The two teams will also play two Tests at the same venue starting April 29. Zimbabwe T20I squad Sean Williams (capt), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tanaka Chivanga, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wesley Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tapiwa Mufudza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano