Zimbabwe v West Indies, III tri-series ODI, Bulawayo – Preview
As the triangular series comes to the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo for the third game between Zimbabwe and West Indies on Saturday (November 19), the historically inclined will know the significance of the fixture. The venue’s first List A game in independent Zimbabwe was between the home team and West Indies way back in 1981. On that occasion, Zimbabwe had got the better of the visiting side by 53 runs.
It is perhaps the inspiration needed ahead of a crucial game, with Zimbabwe having lost the first match of the tournament to Sri Lanka by eight wickets, while West Indies cantered to victory against Upul Tharanga’s men by 62 runs.
In its opening match, Zimbabwe's early loss of wickets meant the team found itself 29 for 4, and though Peter Moor and Graeme Cremer mounted a rescue operation, the Sri Lankan attack was disciplined enough to bowl the team out for 154 in 41.3 overs. An opening partnership of 56 runs between Dhananjaya de Silva, who remained unbeaten on 78, and Kusal Perera, meant that Sri Lanka chased down the target with 153 balls to spare.
West Indies, on the other hand, was clinical against Sri Lanka despite fielding three debutants. The batsmen focussed on constructing the innings through strike-rotation and it worked out well. Shai Hope, Jonathan Carter and Rovman Powell chipped in with handy contributions to take West Indies to 227 in 49.2 overs.
It turned out to be a match-winning total on a surface where it was not the easiest to bat. Ashley Nurse and Shannon Gabriel picked up three wickets each, and Jason Holder, the Man of the Match, returned figures of 2 for 16 in eight overs to dismiss Sri Lanka for 165 in 43.1 overs.
The best thing about the West Indies win was that a relatively young team pulled it off. “This is my third tour, but until now I have not got a game. I have been on the sidelines watching the guys win sometimes, watching the guys lose sometimes, and it can be frustrating,” Nurse, one of the three debutants, said of his performance. “I thank God for the opportunity and I am glad I have the opportunity now.”
With both West Indies and Sri Lanka having won with bonus points, Zimbabwe knows that it needs to win this game to remain alive in the competition. It is easier said than done, considering the last time it beat West Indies was way back in 2010.
Cremer, the captain, was hopeful of reversing the trend by choking the opposition batsmen. “We know their batsmen are pretty fearless. We know they like to hit boundaries,” he said. “We will try to stop that, and starve them of the boundary option to put them under pressure.”
With spin expected to play a bigger role in Bulawayo than it did in Harare, it won’t be a surprise if both the teams pick their attacks accordingly.
Teams (from)
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Tarisai Musakanda, Malcolm Waller, Chamu Chibhabha, Peter Moor (wk), Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chisoro, Brian Chari, Carl Mumba, Christopher Mpofu, Tinashe Panyangara.
West Indies: Jason Holder (capt), Sulieman Benn, Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope (wk), Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell.