Tiripano's last-over heroics hand Zimbabwe a tie
Donald Tiripano, who had successfully defended eight runs in the final over of a Twenty20 International against Mahendra Singh Dhoni earlier this year, lived up to his reputation yet again, this time against West Indies in the third game of the triangular series at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday (November 19).
Chasing 258 for a second win, West Indies needed four runs in the final over when Graeme Cremer brought Tiripano on for his sixth over. He had not bowled since the tenth over of the game, but held his nerve well to concede just three runs as West Indies lost three wickets to finish on 257 for 8.
Carlos Brathwaite was caught at long-on off the second ball, Ashley Nurse was run out without facing a ball, and it boiled down to West Indies needing one run off the final ball. Tiripano bowled a full length ball well outside the off stump that Jason Holder failed to connect with. Jonathan Carter, who had no option but to run, failed to beat Peter Moor’s throw from behind the stumps. The third-ever tie in Zimbabwe and the first in the country in 19 years meant that West Indies could take its tally to only seven points in two games, but was still at the top of the table.
Sri Lanka, who had claimed a bonus point against Zimbabwe in the opening game, is second with six points, while this match gave Zimbabwe its first points.
The match was also the 150th in which Russell Tiffin, one of the on-field umpires, stood in.
West Indies, who has not lost to Zimbabwe since 2010, started the chase on a cautious note, becoming 58 for 2 in 11.1 overs on what looked like a slowish surface. Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope then came together to put on a partnership of 162 runs in 33.3 overs to put West Indies ahead.
It was a massive one in the context of the game and till they were in the middle, West Indies stayed in control. Hope, playing his second ODI, was the first to bring up his half-century and then hit two sixes off Sikandar Raza in the 32nd over to up the scoring rate.
The duo also had their share of luck. Kraigg missed a ball from Hope that hit the stumps, but the bails did not move. In the very next over, Raza dropped Hope at cover. By the time Kraigg, who needed 90 balls to his reach 50, raised his bat, West Indies needed 89 off 81 balls.
The focus shifted to Hope’s impending century after that. He survived another chance before bringing up his milestone. The game, though, turned on its head in the 45th over when Hope, who hit four fours and as many sixes while making 101, was caught behind off Chris Mpofu.
The dot-ball percentage increased after that and Sean Williams, in his tenth over, changed the game in the 48th over when he dismissed Kraigg and Rovman Powell in a space of four balls.
Zimbabwe would have thought it was ahead in the race, but Carlos hit Mpofu for a six in the last ball of the 49th over. It was, however, Tiripano, who had the last laugh.
Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe, after winning the toss, rode on a third-wicket partnership of 144 runs in 25.3 overs between Craig Ervine (92) and Raza (77).
Having recovered from 46 for 2, Zimbabwe was looking for a strong finish but Carlos, who finished with career-best figures of 4 for 48, dismissed Raza in the 39th over to trigger a collapse.
Zimbabwe lost its last eight wickets, including that of Ervine in the 47th over, for 67 runs to be bowled out off the last ball of their 50th over.
Carlos was supported by Shannon Gabriel and Holder, both of who picked up two wickets each.
Hope was adjudged the Man of the Match for his century.
“We made some mistakes in the second half, but the fight we showed there was incredible, full credit to the boys,” Cremer said at the post-match presentation. “We were a bit sloppy on the field, dropped a couple of catches, but hopefully we can take the positives from this match into the next match.”
Holder too wanted his side to learn from the match. “We should have won the game, but that’s cricket," he said. "It’s important for the guys to learn from this occasion. As a young team we just need to think a bit more when we get into these tight positions."
Zimbabwe takes on Sri Lanka in the next game at the same venue on November 21.