Rajput challenges Chevrons

26 Jan, 2020 - 00:01 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Brighton Zhawi
Sports Reporter

THE first Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka might have been played on a docile wicket, but it wasn’t short of drama.

From Zimbabwe’s first concussion-induced substitution and Sri Lanka’s show of skill and experience to taking 10 wickets on the last day despite a valiant rearguard effort by Regis Chakabva, the Test has been eventful.

Angelo Mathews produced a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a maiden double ton which put Sri Lanka in the strong position that eventually saw them clinch the win.

The visitors now lead the two-match series 1-0, and will be high on confidence ahead of the deciding match, which starts tomorrow at Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe continue hunting for a first home Test win since beating Pakistan by 24 runs at Harare Sports Club in 2013.

The home team’s coach Lalchand Rajput has asked his senior players to step up.

“The middle order are all senior players. They have to raise their hands and take the younger guys along with them,” he said.

“The openers did well, the medium pacers bowled exceptionally well. We now need to work on the middle order batsman and the spinners.

“The spinners have to step up and bowl well too,” he said.

The first Test’s wicket offered no swing nor turn; and the fact that Sri Lanka’s left arm spinner Lasith Embudeliya took a first innings five was outstanding.

Zimbabwe’s debutant seamer, Victor Nyauchi, also took three wickets while the impressive Sri Lanka senior bowler, Suranga Lakmal, picked up seven wickets in the match.

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur described the perfomance as “average”, admitting that they toiled for their win.

“I am going to be totally honest. I thought it was an average wicket, it didn’t encourage quick bowling. It didn’t encourage spin and it was tough to score,” said Arthur.

“It was easy, yes, to stay in, but if you tried to accelerate the rate, that was where you got yourself into a little bit of trouble.

“I have no issues over sub-continent issues on day one, two and even on day three; they are very good but then day four and five, the game has to speed up.

“It was damn hard work for both teams out there, and damn hard work to get a result.”

“The wicket looks like it’s going to play pretty much the same as this one. We know it’s going to be hard work, we know there is not going to be a lot of spin.”

His Zimbabwe counterpart Rajput wants his side to show its mettle.

“Test matches test the character of players, plus it tests their mental strength. We lost wickets at the wrong time and missed out on the big partnerships required in a Test match,” said Rajput.

Rajput expects opener Kevin Kasuza, who was struck on the helmet while fielding at short leg, to be fine for tomorrow’s match.

“He (Kasuza) should be okay for the next Test. The doctors wanted to observe him for 72 hours, so that’s why we didn’t want to take a chance and play him,” he said.

Sri Lanka are looking forward to winning a first away Test series since 2019 when they became the first sub-continent team to win a series in South Africa.

The weather forecast predicts a 20 percent chance of rain, with the temperatures on 31 degrees Celsius.

This is fine weather for cricket.

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