"Any opponents cannot be taken lightly", is a cliche that we come across whenever a team takes on a team ranked lower than them, and it has become a norm in this world cup so far. South Africa realized that, Bangladesh feared that and today Zimbabwe tasted their own medicine that they offered South Africa.
Like Bangladesh in the match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Zimbabwe seemed to be under pressure against UAE. UAE was returning to the world cup after 19 years but it was Zimbabwe who seemed to feel the heat in spite of their good form. They had lost their first match in the event, which was on the expected lines but this was a match that they could not lose, especially after how they performed in their opening encounter.
Zimbabwe came into this match with one change. Regis Chakabva came in for Chamu Chibhabha who is nursing a knee injury. After their performance against South Africa, Zimbabwe fancied chasing once again and put in UAE to bat after winning the toss. Playing their first match in the world cup, UAE openers seemed very nervous in their start. They offered edges, catch that was not taken and a wicket of a no-ball. But Zimbabwe too looked nervous and did not take the chances that came their way. In spite of their steady start and losing two wickets, UAE were 40 at the end of 11th over.
At this point former UAE captain, their best batsmen and the oldest man (at 43) in this world cup joined Krishna Chandran to add 82 for the third wicket in 16.2 overs. Though the pair provided solidity to the innings but were not threatening. Krishna scored at strike rate just above 50. Khurram Khan scored a 55-ball 45 and both these batsmen got out in quick succession. Solomon Mire accounted for Chandran, Tendai Chatara took out Khurram at the beginning of their respective second spell. When Khurram got out UAE were 134/4 in 30.1 overs.
UAE looked like progressing towards a modest total. The 35-year-old Shaiman Anwar then joined hands with wicket-keeper Swapnil Patil to add another 82 runs for the 5th wicket but a faster rate than what Khurram and Chandran did. During their partnership, they amassed 48 runs in the batting powerplay. Anwar dominated the partnership scoring his personal best 67 off 50 balls. Now UAE looked marching towards a respectable total. Again Zimbabwe pulled the strings back when Williams who was introduced in the death overs, removed both the batsmen in quick succession. To add to the tally Chatara removed Rohan Mustafa in between. At the start of 45th over UAE were 232/7. At the time when Zimbabwe must have thought that they have done enough, their memories of the last few overs against South Africa came back. Mohammad Naveed and Amjad Javed added 53 off the last 5.5 overs. What this meant was UAE ended up with their highest ever total in ODI - 285 and the icing on the cake was that it had scored against a full member.
If Zimbabwe's death bowling is becoming a concern for them then a new dimension got added to their worry. Their fielding was really sloppy and had they been more sharp on the field and took a few chances that came their way, they would definitely not have been chasing a 286.
Considering the fact that Zimbabwe had score 277 against a formidable attack such as that of South Africa, that too under the pressure of chasing a daunting 340, they would have thought that this chase would be a cake walk, especially with Hamilton Masakadza in form. But the duo of Mohammad Naveed and Amjad Javed who tormented Zimbabweans in the last 6 overs while batting did not give away any easy runs in the first 6 overs when they came to bowl. The duo conceded just 18 runs. Regis Chakabva who had come in for Chamu Chibhabha, seemed under pressure and could not score with the same fluency with which Chibhabha did the other day against the Proteans. Sikandar Raza understanding the importance to keep the asking run rate in sight, pressed on the pedal, which resulted in the freak over by Amjad Javed which in turn conceded 15 runs.
Skipper Mohammad Tauqir who at 43 years is the oldest to captain in this world cup, brought himself on and in the very first over dismissed the threatening Raza, who had by then had scored 46 off 44 balls. Zimbabwe got their big blow when their in-form batsman Hamilton Masakadza soon fell to Amjad Javed's incoming ball. At this point Zimbabwe were 72/2 and the asking rate still just above 6. Fluent Brendan Taylor started stitching a partnership with Chakabva who was still trying to come out of his shell. Chakabva was relieved of his misery (35 off 62) when his toe slipped and hit the wickets to be dismissed Hit-Wicket. He became the eighth batsman in the history of world cup to be out hit-wicket. Incidentally he is the second batsman from Zimbabwe to be out in this fashion after Vusi Sibanda who was also an opener.
When it looked like Brendor Taylor would be the man who would take Zimbabwe home, he fell to Nasir Aziz's offbreak. Solomon Mire was promoted up the order but this did not work and he too fell cheaply. Zimbabwe's chase looked shaky with the score 167/5 in 32.4 overs just before the batting powerplay. Sean Williams who was at the crease looked comfortable, was joined by Craig Ervine. They began piling up runs with smart running between the wickets and boundaries from time to time. Both of them added 45 runs in the batting powerplay bringing down the equation to 64 runs of last 10 overs.
When Ervine fell for 42 off 32 balls, both these batsmen had added 83 off 62 balls. Zimbabwe needed just 36 runs of the remaining 42 balls with Williams still on the crease. UAE came up with couple of good overs to bring down the equation to 31 runs off 30 balls. At this stage, it looked anyone's game provided UAE took wickets. But that was not to be. Zimbabwe brought in all their experience nudging singles regularly and hitting just one boundary each in the next couple of overs and finally Williams hit 3 consecutive boundaries of the last three balls of 48th over to take Zimbabwe home. Even if the match did not end as real thriller it was mighty close and Zimbabwe just got over the line.
Zimbabwe clearly came into the match as favourite but this match was an evenly matched one. It would have been really disappointing for Zimbabwe to lose, especially after their performance against South Africa the other day. UAE which is built of amateur showed real character by posting their highest total in ODI. Their batsmen were really good in hitting down the ground and across the line, especially towards the end. Their bowling pushed the chase till the end. It was the lack of experience at this stage that let them down. A few fielding mistakes and a few loose balls towards the end did not help their cause and if they think that it was an opportunity missed, they would be justified in thinking that way.
Finally it was a good game of cricket and UAE came very close to win against a full member.
Like Bangladesh in the match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Zimbabwe seemed to be under pressure against UAE. UAE was returning to the world cup after 19 years but it was Zimbabwe who seemed to feel the heat in spite of their good form. They had lost their first match in the event, which was on the expected lines but this was a match that they could not lose, especially after how they performed in their opening encounter.
Zimbabwe came into this match with one change. Regis Chakabva came in for Chamu Chibhabha who is nursing a knee injury. After their performance against South Africa, Zimbabwe fancied chasing once again and put in UAE to bat after winning the toss. Playing their first match in the world cup, UAE openers seemed very nervous in their start. They offered edges, catch that was not taken and a wicket of a no-ball. But Zimbabwe too looked nervous and did not take the chances that came their way. In spite of their steady start and losing two wickets, UAE were 40 at the end of 11th over.
At this point former UAE captain, their best batsmen and the oldest man (at 43) in this world cup joined Krishna Chandran to add 82 for the third wicket in 16.2 overs. Though the pair provided solidity to the innings but were not threatening. Krishna scored at strike rate just above 50. Khurram Khan scored a 55-ball 45 and both these batsmen got out in quick succession. Solomon Mire accounted for Chandran, Tendai Chatara took out Khurram at the beginning of their respective second spell. When Khurram got out UAE were 134/4 in 30.1 overs.
UAE looked like progressing towards a modest total. The 35-year-old Shaiman Anwar then joined hands with wicket-keeper Swapnil Patil to add another 82 runs for the 5th wicket but a faster rate than what Khurram and Chandran did. During their partnership, they amassed 48 runs in the batting powerplay. Anwar dominated the partnership scoring his personal best 67 off 50 balls. Now UAE looked marching towards a respectable total. Again Zimbabwe pulled the strings back when Williams who was introduced in the death overs, removed both the batsmen in quick succession. To add to the tally Chatara removed Rohan Mustafa in between. At the start of 45th over UAE were 232/7. At the time when Zimbabwe must have thought that they have done enough, their memories of the last few overs against South Africa came back. Mohammad Naveed and Amjad Javed added 53 off the last 5.5 overs. What this meant was UAE ended up with their highest ever total in ODI - 285 and the icing on the cake was that it had scored against a full member.
If Zimbabwe's death bowling is becoming a concern for them then a new dimension got added to their worry. Their fielding was really sloppy and had they been more sharp on the field and took a few chances that came their way, they would definitely not have been chasing a 286.
Considering the fact that Zimbabwe had score 277 against a formidable attack such as that of South Africa, that too under the pressure of chasing a daunting 340, they would have thought that this chase would be a cake walk, especially with Hamilton Masakadza in form. But the duo of Mohammad Naveed and Amjad Javed who tormented Zimbabweans in the last 6 overs while batting did not give away any easy runs in the first 6 overs when they came to bowl. The duo conceded just 18 runs. Regis Chakabva who had come in for Chamu Chibhabha, seemed under pressure and could not score with the same fluency with which Chibhabha did the other day against the Proteans. Sikandar Raza understanding the importance to keep the asking run rate in sight, pressed on the pedal, which resulted in the freak over by Amjad Javed which in turn conceded 15 runs.
Skipper Mohammad Tauqir who at 43 years is the oldest to captain in this world cup, brought himself on and in the very first over dismissed the threatening Raza, who had by then had scored 46 off 44 balls. Zimbabwe got their big blow when their in-form batsman Hamilton Masakadza soon fell to Amjad Javed's incoming ball. At this point Zimbabwe were 72/2 and the asking rate still just above 6. Fluent Brendan Taylor started stitching a partnership with Chakabva who was still trying to come out of his shell. Chakabva was relieved of his misery (35 off 62) when his toe slipped and hit the wickets to be dismissed Hit-Wicket. He became the eighth batsman in the history of world cup to be out hit-wicket. Incidentally he is the second batsman from Zimbabwe to be out in this fashion after Vusi Sibanda who was also an opener.
When it looked like Brendor Taylor would be the man who would take Zimbabwe home, he fell to Nasir Aziz's offbreak. Solomon Mire was promoted up the order but this did not work and he too fell cheaply. Zimbabwe's chase looked shaky with the score 167/5 in 32.4 overs just before the batting powerplay. Sean Williams who was at the crease looked comfortable, was joined by Craig Ervine. They began piling up runs with smart running between the wickets and boundaries from time to time. Both of them added 45 runs in the batting powerplay bringing down the equation to 64 runs of last 10 overs.
When Ervine fell for 42 off 32 balls, both these batsmen had added 83 off 62 balls. Zimbabwe needed just 36 runs of the remaining 42 balls with Williams still on the crease. UAE came up with couple of good overs to bring down the equation to 31 runs off 30 balls. At this stage, it looked anyone's game provided UAE took wickets. But that was not to be. Zimbabwe brought in all their experience nudging singles regularly and hitting just one boundary each in the next couple of overs and finally Williams hit 3 consecutive boundaries of the last three balls of 48th over to take Zimbabwe home. Even if the match did not end as real thriller it was mighty close and Zimbabwe just got over the line.
Zimbabwe clearly came into the match as favourite but this match was an evenly matched one. It would have been really disappointing for Zimbabwe to lose, especially after their performance against South Africa the other day. UAE which is built of amateur showed real character by posting their highest total in ODI. Their batsmen were really good in hitting down the ground and across the line, especially towards the end. Their bowling pushed the chase till the end. It was the lack of experience at this stage that let them down. A few fielding mistakes and a few loose balls towards the end did not help their cause and if they think that it was an opportunity missed, they would be justified in thinking that way.
Finally it was a good game of cricket and UAE came very close to win against a full member.
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