In Super 12 action in the T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe defeated Scotland. Friday, owing to a fifty from their captain, Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe beat Scotland by five wickets and moved on to the Super 12 of the Twenty20 World Cup. Tendai Chatara (2-14) and Richard Ngarava (2-28) led the African bowling attack. It kept the Scots at 132-6, and their team cruised to victory in their run chase with nine balls to spare.
Although they had qualified for the World Cup five times before, Zimbabwe had never made it past the first round. However, things have been looking good since July. It was when coach Dave Houghton, Zimbabwe’s first Test captain in 1992, returned for a second tenure. In the most recent World Cup, they beat Ireland in their opening game but lost to the West Indies later on before meeting Scotland in the quarterfinals.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Scotland captain Richie Berrington saw his team fall behind fast after losing Michael Jones, who had just struck a brilliant 86 against Ireland. In a magnificent over-the-shoulder catch, Sikandar Raza eliminated Chatara from play with his bowling.
Zimbabwe defeated Scotland in Super 12 T20 World Cup
Wessly Madhevere was dismissed for one off Matthew Cross after he took a spectacular diving catch at midwicket in the fifth over, bringing Scotland’s score to 24-2. Meanwhile, George Munsey, the team’s opener, maintained his composure. At one point, Berrington had a 40-run lead before their captain was out to Milton Shumba in deep center off Raza for 13.
This low scoring stand came despite the fact that Berrington was facing economical bowling. By hitting a single from Ngarava, Munsey reached his sixth T20 fifty before being caught by Shumba for 54. That paved the way for Calum MacLeod’s (25) and Michael Leask’s (40) late-game efforts (12). They began their chase with a 4. Two Zimbabwean wickets fell in as many deliveries.
After reaching the boundary, Madhevere was out after he dragged a Josh Davey delivery onto his stumps. In spite of hitting the ball over the fence, Regis Chakabva was run out after he fell into Brad Wheal’s lbw trap. Due to a “minor asthmatic episode,” Ervine was unable to attend their previous meeting.
Together with Sean Williams, they put on 35 runs before their stand was broken. When Michael Leask joined the attack, Wheal knocked him for a seven. Zimbabwe’s score after ten overs was 55-3. Although the dangerous Raza has eclipsed it (40 off 23). He took a swing with the bat and was afterwards caught by Cross off Davey.
Ervine kept his mind on the task at hand and made his tenth T20 fifty. Ervine’s absence weakens the hierarchy. Chris Greaves and Davey capably scored 14 runs in the final three overs.