Zimbabwe thrashed Scotland in T20 World Cup Super 12. Zimbabwe overcame Scotland by five wickets and advanced to the Twenty20 World Cup’s Super 12 on Friday thanks to a fifty from their captain, Craig Ervine.
The African team bowled efficiently to restrict the Scots to 132-6, with Tendai Chatara (2-14) and Richard Ngarava (2-28) leading the way, and then breezed through the run chase with nine balls to spare. Zimbabwe had previously participated in the World Cup five times but had never advanced past the first round.
But since July, when coach Dave Houghton, Zimbabwe’s first Test captain in 1992, returned for a second term, they’ve been on the upswing. They started off their most recent World Cup campaign with a win against Ireland, but then fell to the West Indies before earning a matchup with the Scots.
Richie Berrington, captain of Scotland, won the toss and elected to bat, but his team quickly fell behind after losing Michael Jones, who had just scored an impressive 86 against Ireland, in the first over. Sikandar Raza caught Chatara out of the game with a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch off of his bowling.
Zimbabwe thrashed Scotland in T20 World Cup Super 12
Four overs later, in the fifth over, Scotland was 24-2, thanks to a one-run dismissal by Wessly Madhevere off Matthew Cross, who had taken a superb diving catch at midwicket. At the other end, opener George Munsey stayed composed. Berrington put on 40 runs until the captain holed out to Milton Shumba in the deep off Raza for 13. Slowing run rate against economical bowling. Munsey scored his tenth T20 half-century with a single before being caught by Shumba off Ngarava for 54.
This set the stage for late contributions from Calum MacLeod (25) and Michael Leask (12). After starting their pursuit with a four. Zimbabwe quickly lost two wickets in a span of eight deliveries. Madhevere was out without a run when he dragged a Josh Davey delivery onto his stumps after hitting the boundary. Regis Chakabva was out after smashing the ball to the fence but falling victim to Brad Wheal’s lbw trap.
Ervine missed their last encounter due to a “minor asthmatic attack.” So Sean Williams and him put on 35 runs, but the stand was ended. Michael Leask came into the attack and was caught by Wheal for seven.
After 10 overs, Zimbabwe was reduced to 55-3. Despite being overshadowed by the dangerous Raza (40 off 23). He swung the bat before being caught behind by Cross off Davey. Ervine maintained his concentration to score his eleventh T20 half-century. With Ervine out chipping down the order. They needed 14 runs in the final three overs, which Chris Greaves and Davey ably delivered.
