The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
Sports Reporter
It was a Test series that had it all — concussion test and subs, illness and injury, bad weather and some performances that ranged from promising to being brilliant.
The Chevrons leadership has even declared that the recently concluded Zimbabwe two-Test series was the ideal preparation for the next assignment against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka maintained their dominance over Zimbabwe, in Tests, winning the first and 14th Test between the two sides.
With the Asians emerging victors, having won the two-match series 1-nil, the Chevrons are set to continue hunting for a first victory over their fancied rivals.
“If you look at the two Test matches, you realise that it was a fantastic team effort. During the first match, we could have drawn while we could have won during the second match, but I think the boys really stepped up,” said Zimbabwe coach Lalchand Rajput.
“In terms of the preparations, they were not really ideal preparations, yet the boys still gave it their all. We had two new openers and they have really stood out.”
Rajput added: “ln addition, there were a lot of debutants in the team. To be very honest, I think they raised their hands and performed well.”
In a fortnight, Zimbabwe will leave for Bangladesh for their first full tour, which will include a one-off Test, two ODIs and three T20s.
These will be played from February 18 to March 11.
“We are going to Bangladesh. We know that we will get spinning wickets there, and I think going against Sri Lanka was an ideal preparation.
“The boys are confident and I am sure we will do well, just like we did last time.”
On the final morning of the second Test, Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams had his team in a huddle, delivering an animated speech before the group got together for their “123 Mbabwe” war cry.
Zimbabwe needed 10 wickets to win the Test on the final day. However, they managed three and it ended up being a drawn match.
At some point, they pushed for a win with innovative field sets where there was short mid-on, short extra cover, short cover, and short mid-on.
“There was belief right up to the end. Even the umpires asked me towards the end, ‘Would you like to shake hands?’, and I said no,” Williams said.
“I had a good feeling with Raza and Donnie with the new ball and that field placing. The Sri Lankans weren’t trying to play their shots so I wanted them to play a couple of shots and a lot of time in the game.
“I figured if I had five guys in a semi-circle, they had to play a shot, and it ended up giving us a wicket. It truly was a fantastic thing, I like doing and seeing things like that.
“It’s unusual. It’s different. It puts a bowler under pressure because he has to bowl in the right area, but it’s a really good feeling when it comes off,” said the skipper, who scored a second Test hundred despite not feeling very well.
“It actually started before the Test match on Sunday. I missed training and stayed at the hotel. Luckily my wife was there with me,” explained Williams.
“Monday I was doing a little better.
“But once I got here in the morning, I had a rush of sweat. Luckily as I got to the car park, the doctor was there and picked me up and put me straight into the medical room.
“They put me on a drip immediately, and I ended up going to the hotel. It has been tough for me, it’s been extremely tough for me to get through this, both mentally and physically.
“Luckily Brendan (Taylor) stood up, took my place on the field and did a fantastic job. The guys backed me up with personal performances.
This Test series will be remembered for many things, including debutant Kevin Kasuza’s 50 on debut and his double mishap of being struck on the helmet while fielding at short leg in both Tests.
In both instances, interestingly, Raza was the bowler and Kusal Mendis was the batsman while Kasuza was the victim on both occasions.
“It’s quite unfortunate that in every Test match, he is getting hit. I don’t think it happens very often.
“He is a strong man, in fact in the second innings he wanted to bat but the doctor said no. It shows that person’s character,” said Rajput.
Raza shone with the second best figures (after Paul Strang’s 8-109 against New Zealand in 2000) in a Test innings by a Zimbabwean bowler.
His 7-113 in the first innings of the second Test saw him finishing the series with 11 wickets and 164 runs.
Williams scored 217 runs, Taylor 188 runs and Craig Ervine 177. As the senior players, they played their roles.
The seaming department also toiled hard in the unfavourable conditions, and Donald Tiripano (two wickets) led the attack in the absence of Kyle Jarvis due to a back injury in the second Test.
Debutant Victor Nyauchi proved to be a good addition to the team with his five wickets. This was a result of hard work and tight bowling.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe U19 cricket team will complete their World Cup campaign with an 11th place play-off against Scotland in Kimberly, South Africa, today.
It will be a second meeting between the sides, who were in the same group in the early stages of the tournament. Zimbabwe won that match by eight wickets.
Zimbabwe lost the Plate semi-final play-off to England by 75 runs last Friday.
Back home, attention shifts to the domestic game as the Pro 50 Championship starts with back-to-back fixtures in Harare this week.
Defending champions Eagles play Mountaineers on Tuesday and Wednesday at Harare Sports Club, while Tuskers take on academy side Rangers at Queens Sports Club.
