The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
ONE cannot help but get the eerie feeling that Zimbabwe cricket will not get a player like Sikandar Raza once he decides to retire.
The Chevrons are at their weakest when the all-rounder is absent from the team sheet and stronger when he is in the team.
However, at 37, Raza’s days of international cricket are numbered.
For now, the best the nation can do is enjoy the world in which the swash-buckling cricketer is living.
For a classic example of his worth to the Chevrons, one need only look at the Chevrons’ five-wicket victory over Namibia in the second T20 International of their five-match series on Wednesday afternoon.
Trailing one-nil, Zimbabwe went into the match with their backs against the wall, as the Southern African minnows had reduced the visitors into an ordinary side in the first match.
Once again, Zimbabwe won the toss, but this time elected to bat first.
Zimbabwe looked headed for yet another defeat, as the hosts posted 198 for three during their allotted 20 overs.
Namibia’s top-order did all the damage, led by openers Michael van Lingen (67) and Nicholas Davin (60), whose 108-run first wicket partnership set the stage for the hosts’ strong total.
That first-wicket stand came thick and fast, as the two raced to the first hundred off 57 balls, with skipper Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit chipping in with 38 and 25 runs, respectively.
This set Zimbabwe a 199-run target for the victory.
However, the Chevrons’ batting line-up proved brittle once again, as the much-hyped Nick Welch (25), Innocent Kaia (37) and skipper Craig Ervine (1) failed to give Zimbabwe the desired start.
Enter Sikandar Raza!
On a day that will likely be remembered for Glen Maxwell’s historic 106-run innings during Australia’s 309-run victory over the Netherlands, Raza turned out to be the star of his own sideshow.
Raza’s unbeaten 82 runs off 35 balls turned out to be the difference for the Chevrons, as the visitors’ 200 for five saw them eke out the win.
The Zimbabwe talisman found a reliable partner in Wesley Madhevere, whose 23 runs off 12 balls saw the two claw the Chevrons back into the game and cross the finish line.
Both sets of bowling units were clearly outclassed as Eramus’ two for 29 runs made some sort of impact in the game.
With the five-match series tied at one game apiece, the two teams meet again on Friday.
