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A win for Zimbabwe in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup edition is actually a win for the cricketing fraternity and forget not, its fans. And that’s down to two reasons at the very least. For starters, it shows the game may be centred around the big three powers as is the usual criticism - England, India and Australia - but it dismantles the old bias that these are the only powerful nations around.
Zimbabwe’s key win over Australia nullifies the Bully-dominated-the-weakling logic. It proves avidly that even a team as mighty as Australia can be beaten. Under Sikandar Raza’s inspirational Leadership, Zimbabwe usurped a champion heavyweight team that one mustn’t forget, is a world champion even in the game’s shortest format. Make no mistake about the fact that never have Australia - as on date- beaten Zimbabweans in a World Cup where it comes to the ICC T20 WC event. Their last win prior to the game changing day at Colombo was in the 2007 edition.
Secondly and just as importantly as the former point, Zimbabwe’s mega win over the Aussies- perhaps already wilting under the pressure of several injuries and therefore, subsequent absences- proves the fact that the tournament is wide and open.
It, therefore, opens our minds and hearts to the fact that anything can actually happen in the game’s shortest format. Today, the Australians did evidently underestimate the Zimbabweans. Poor field placing coupled with a lack of body language did give Zimbabwe, who were under the radar a chance to rise up to the occasion.
And that man Sikandar Raza. The more said on this charismatic all round cricketer, the lesser; there’s so much flair and character he brings onto the table that one feels there’s a tendency to never fully capture his allure.
He was not interested in letting Australians get away at the expense of undermining his Zimbabwe. No chance. Even despite suffering an injury scare, he hovered around the field. Kept setting attacking fielding options. There was a short leg slip off Muzarabani that took the massive wicket of Tim David.
Excellent out fielding helped Zimbabwe’s cause after batting first Brian Bennett and Marumani got the team off to a fliar. The latter’s 35 off just 21 was pleasant and confidence expanding.
Bennett himself top scored for his side. Ryan Burl at three did the part that Hetmyer has been doing for the West Indies. His 35 were precious runs. Then Raza himself chipped in with a characteristic 25 unbeaten runs.
Props to Muzarabani who courtesy his 4 for went past 100 T20I runs. That’s a mega feat. Something we must celebrate just as much as we partake in the celebration of the cricketing overlords. You know the instances where an Abhishek Sharma or Hardik Pandya or Sky strike big against their opponents.
Zimbabwe have proven that not only is it totally possible to score well north of 150 and 170 against the mighty Australians but totally possible to edge past the so called giants.
Sad that we don’t have amid us big talents such as Pat Cummins or Starc or even Mitch Marsh. Their team missed their useful services.
But then make no mistake- for Zimbabwe beat a team that still comprised the impressive and hard hitting names like Inglis, Maxwell and Stoinis.
