The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
CRAIG ERVINE and the boys were among the many that watched the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers’ Super Six match between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Friday.
The average Zimbabwean fan found themselves torn between the two as to who to root for.
A Netherlands win would have dented Sri Lanka’s hopes of quick passage to the final, and hopefully exposed a chink in the Asian amour.
The hope was that the Dutch win would have removed the aura of invincibility that the Asians have carried for the most part of these qualifiers.
It would have exposed a weakness Zimbabwe could have identified, and, hopefully, exploit when the Chevrons meet Sri Lanka at the very same venue this morning.
On the downside – a win for the Dutch would have a ripple effect – one that could inevitably come back to bite Zimbabwe as it would have resurrected Netherlands’ chances to qualifying and given extra purpose and motivation to the Sri Lankans to come out guns blazing this morning.
A Sri Lanka victory, which did come to pass courtesy of a 21-run win , ensures that Zimbabwe and the Asians remain in pole position for the two available slots for to the Cricket World Cup in India later this year.
The winner of today’s match-up between the two pretty much ensures passage to next Sunday’s final at Harare Sports Club, and, more importantly, a ticket to the World Cup.
Such are the complexities of your typical Zimbabwean.
For, Ervine and the rest of the Zimbabwe technical team, the mathematics were much simpler.
“We were watching; I think more because we wanted to see what kind of wicket, how Sri Lanka go about their business because we play them on Sunday (today), trying to understand a little more about the conditions and trying to take as much as we can,” said Ervine.
“I do feel that there shall come a stage or game that we will need to scrap for runs on a tricky wicket, so it is always nice to have a look and see how some of the other teams play,” he said.
The exercise proved to be fruitful, for both the average fan and the Chevrons’ team, as Sri Lanka pulled the rabbit out of the hat and emerged victorious.
The match itself is certainly in the running for the match of the tournament, a second nod for the Dutch, as Sri Lanka managed to defend what many believed to be a sub-par 213 runs.
As been the case throughout the tournament, Sri Lanka’s victory was built on the backs of their spin department as Maheesh Theekshana picked up three wickets for 31 runs.
Heading into this stage of the tournament, wrist-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana were the players to watch from the Sri Lankan side, and the duo is yet to disappoint.
It is, however, a point that has not gone unnoticed in the Zimbabwe dressing room.
“What did take away from that game is that Sri Lanka rely heavily on Theekshana and Hasaranga to help them continually pick up wickets throughout the innings.
“Those two guys have been the head of the discussion, and we will have to try to figure out how best we can combat the threat that they pose,” said the skipper.
If there is a lesson to be learnt from the opening three games of the Super Six stage, then it is that there are no easy matches.
Not many would have given both the Dutch and Oman a chance of making ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers Super Six log leaders Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe sweat.
But sweat they did, as first Oman came close to chasing down a record 332 runs and the Netherlands restricted Sri Lanka to just 213 runs in the respective match-ups.
The last couple of days have been an eye-opening experience for Ervine and the boys, as one gets the feeling that an upset is just around the corner.
It remains to be seen if the West Indies’ seven-wicket loss to Scotland, yesterday, can be counted as an upset, especially when you consider that Jason Holder and his boys have not been themselves all tournament.
“When you compare the Super Six games to the group matches, I don’t think any game is easy,” said Ervine.
“There is extra motivation for the teams to play their best cricket, what with just six teams left in the running now, and there is no room to let up on our performances.
“The Oman game was no easy game, and the Sri Lanka match on Sunday (today) is going to be another tough ask.
“However, we are up for the challenge, and it should be a good game,” he said.
There is very little need for extra motivation going into Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, but it does promise to be one hell of a humdinger.
For one, the winner of that match pretty much qualifies for the World Cup, and it pits the remaining undefeated sides against each other.
Something has got to give!
On one side, there is the threat of Theekshana and Hasaranga, with the latter the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets while the former has chipped in nine scalps.
Only Richard Ngarava’s 12 wickets rival the two in terms of wicket-taking and breaking crucial partnerships.
In the batting department, opener Dimuth Karunaratne has provided much of the runs for Sri Lankans, and is currently ranked sixth on the run-scorers’ charts with 256 runs from five matches.
On the flip side, Zimbabwe have thrived in the batting department as Sean Williams is top of the charts with 532 runs.
These include three centuries, a solo half-century, and a best of 174 runs.
Talisman Sikandar Raza is not too far behind, at number five, with 260 runs, and a best of an unbeaten-102 runs.
“Sean (Williams) and Raza have been unbelievable,” said the skipper.
“Williams’ form during these qualifiers has been great, and I really hope that it continues throughout the rest of the year and into 2024.
“He is such a quality player, and what he has shown during the last five games is that he can score from anywhere and at will.
“That is the class of the guy, and it has been really important having him and Raza in the middle order and scoring runs,” he said.
Ervine went on to give an update on the injury of another vital cog of the middle and lower order, Ryan Burl, who appeared to take a knock during the Oman game.
Burl received a yorker to his foot while batting, and appeared to struggle walking for the rest of the match.
He sat out the second innings, but should be okay to play today.
With a ticket to the World Cup on offer, Ervine prefers that the team stays grounded, but has urged the fans to come in their numbers and make as much noise as possible.
“I don’t think we can ever thank the fans enough as the support we have received during these qualifiers has been amazing,” he said.
“The crowds we witnessed in Harare were absolutely insane, and the atmosphere was just out of this world.
“Since we have come to Bulawayo, it has been pretty much the same.
“It might not be as many people as Harare, but they have been making as much noise.
“The hope now is that they come in their numbers on Sunday, and we promise to play to the best of their abilities,” he said.
