Triangular series
Zimbabwe 211/7 (Chigumbura 52*; Lyon 4/44)
Australia 209/9 (Clarke 68*)
w Zimbabwe won by three wickets
Zaahier Adams
HARARE: Traditionally a visit to the Harare Sports Club for the locals was a time to forget about the country’s daily struggles. It was a time to be among friends and enjoy some cricket.
For the past decade it has not been such a pleasure as the national team has been in a constant state of decline. But one balmy afternoon in the Sunshine City’s capital city yesterday, all was forgotten as the host nation humbled the World No 1 Australians in their backyard.
It is only the second time in the African minnow’s history that they have been able to lower the Australian flag, with the last time being 31 long years ago at the 1983 World Cup. It will certainly sit alongside other Zimbabwean cricket “I was there” moments.
And unlike Eddo Brandes’s hat trick in 1997, which one local journalist earlier this week said was cheered on by “almost entirely white-skinned” fans, this victory was celebrated on terraces and grass banks by blacks, whites, coloureds and Asian expatriates.
“It was a proud moment for everyone, for Zimbabwe Cricket and even for Zimbabwe because it’s been more than 30 years since we beat Australia. Hopefully we can learn from this and have more success to come,” a beaming Elton Chigumbura said.
Coach Stephen Mangongo, who has been under pressure for his controversial selections, echoed his captain’s views: “There are a lot of positive Zimbabweans who love sport. I’m sure you heard all the singing and the joyous, momentous occasion when Zimbabwe won. I’m sure they are happy that their team managed to beat the No 1 team in the world.”
Chigumbura was pivotal in his team’s victory, leading Zimbabwe’s run chase with an undefeated half-century.
The skipper’s contribution was even of greater consequence as he shared a 55-run run stand with the hat trick hero of the previous game against South Africa, Prosper Utseya, to get his team over the line for this famous victory.
Chigumbura did not have the pleasure of hitting the winning runs – that was left to Utseya who swung Mitchell Starc over the square leg boundary for six to finish the match in the finest of fashions.
“He doesn’t normally play like that but he was positive, even before the innings he said ‘I am going to be positive today’.
“It played a big part in us winning this game,” the skipper said of Utseya’s match-winning 28-ball, 30 not out.
The batsman’s heroics could not though have been achieved if Zimbabwe’s slow bowlers had once again not exploited the conditions that have been tailor-made for them. The hosts employed their spin quartet of John Nyumbu (1/30), Utseya (2/45), Sean Williams (2/21) and Michael Waller (1/21) with great effect, with only Australian injured captain Michael Clarke being able to counter the threat.
Clarke, however, battled a hamstring injury throughout his innings, which has consequently ruled him out of the remainder of this tri-series. He was forced to leave the field on 68. The only other Australian batsmen to make any form of contributions were Brad Haddin (49) and No 10 Ben Cutting with 29, which left Clarke fuming about his team’s continued failures against spin bowling.
“It’s a terrible performance, there’s no doubt about it. We continually talk about facing spin bowling as an Australian team. It seems to be an area we continue to struggle in and today’s another example of that,” said Clarke.
w JP Duminy (left knee) and Morkel Morkel (right shoulder) are undergoing intense treatment on their respective injuries. Duminy wore an ice-pack to ease the pain at training yesterday, while Morkel constantly requires pain-killers to get him through a spell.
Both players are likely to battle through their respective pain, although it could be another opportunity for Knights left-hand batsman Rilee Rossouw and Dolphins eamer Kyle Abbott to show their worth.
South Africa and Australia face-off in the triangular series tomorrow, with the Aussies now facing a must-win situation if they are to qualify for Saturday’s final.