Snyder, all-round Ives take Zimbabwe to six-wicket win

But for that to work, the two needed to bat through the innings, and that wasn’t to be. Mavuta, with his legspin, had Taploo (37 off 71) stepping out and finding air as Ryan Murray, behind the stumps, whipped off the bails. When Abraash was dismissed two overs later by Ives, the left-arm spinner, they were reduced to 128 for 5 and Canada’s spell of defiance was over.

Arslan Khan (31 off 39) struck three boundaries, and put on 24 with Kurt Ramdath for the sixth wicket. Ramdath (17 off 31) then added 24 with Abdul Haseeb for the eighth wicket, all of which were important contributions, but ultimately inadequate.

If Canada was cautious, Zimbabwe was a study in contrast. Snyder was menacing, treating the best of Canada’s bowlers with absolute disdain. The first over, off Abraash, yielded 13 runs, with Snyder cracking two absolute rippers through the covers.

As the innings progressed, he settled down and there were more big beauties. Thaker was driven straight down for four, and he took 17 runs off the next over from Haseeb, including an inside-out six over long off – there was no fence, and the ball ended up in no man’s land far away.

He repeated the feat two overs later, and waited patiently for the ball to be found. In eight overs, 64 runs were scored, and he brought up his half-century in just 37 balls.

Snyder eventually miscued one off Adhihetty, the leading edge falling safely with a fielder, but the damage had been done. Wesley Madhevere fell for a 32-ball 31 as well, and the run-rate slowed down a bit. But Ives then took charge to take the team through. He put on 34 with Murray for the third wicket, and an unbroken 46 for the fifth with William Mashinge (24) sealed the deal.

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