Cricket: Chigumbura’s ODI target

ZIMBABWE national cricket team all-rounder Elton Chigumbura intends to reach the 3 000 One Day International runs mark in style. The 28-year-old Chigumbura, who has played 153 matches, is just two runs shy of becoming the seventh Zimbabwean batsman to score 3 000 ODI runs and is determined to make the most of the opportunity presented by the visit of Afghanistan.

Zimbabwe will play the visitors in the first of four ODI matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Friday and Chigumbura has his eyes set on hitting a maiden ODI ton against them.

“Most of the time when I bat at number seven, it’s always hard to score a century because you have less overs to face and you come in to bat with specific team instructions,” he said.

“However, it’s something I am trying to achieve. Anything is possible, I know it will come. It’s just a matter of time before you see a hundred from me.

“I believe every match is always an opportunity (to score a hundred); it can be South Africa, Australia or even Afghanistan and when the opportunity comes I just have to grab it with both hands.

“Afghanistan are a good team. I think most of them play in the Pakistan domestic league; so we can’t underestimate them. We have to play our best cricket and obviously there is pressure to win the series because we are a Test-playing nation.”

While a century is not guaranteed, the two runs needed to get him to the 3 000-run mark are more achievable and Chigumbura is relishing the prospect of joining a league that also has the Flower brothers Andy and Grant, Alistair Campbell, current skipper Brendan Taylor, former skipper Tatenda Taibu and Hamilton Masakadza.

Chigumbura insists reaching the 3 000-run milestone will not extinguish his hunger for success.
“Scoring runs for the team is always a good thing. Getting to 3 000 runs will be another milestone, but there is a lot that still needs to be done and I will continue to work hard.

“Career-wise it has always been up and down. It’s part of life, you don’t have to give up.
“One series you play well, the other one you struggle, but at the end of the day you don’t have to give up…work hard and make sure you improve on your weaknesses,” said Chigumbura.