Zimbabwe will meet Kenya in an ODI series in September / October of this year. The tour is part of ZC’s efforts to fill in their schedule after the postponment of the tour by India, although they’re also hoping to get at least one other series scheduled for earlier in the year. Speaking to the Zimbabwe Independent, Cricket Kenya spokesman Tom Tikolo stated they were hoping to arrange for another side to join the tour to allow for a tri-series:
“The tour is to take place in September/October 2008 and we hope that we can have another international team to have (a) tri-series. We hope we can get at least three ODIs and two four-day matches.”
Cricket Kenya are also hoping that if results go their way, the tour will encourage other Full Member sides to play against them, and that the tour will help improve Zimbabwe’s own standards:
“We are continually talking to other countries to settle on matches for the team. At the moment we still hope that the ICC will insist on the teams to play us. We would really wish that our participation in engagements with Zimbabwe would become a permanent fixture for us. Reciprocal visits should be encourages at all levels.”
“We at Cricket Kenya sympathise with our Zimbabwean brethren in that a strong Zimbabwe would build a strong Kenya. We would like to see a lot more interactions between the two of us in order to support our causes at the ICC.”
Can’t argue with that sentiment…
Zimbabwe Independent - Zimbabwe Cricket Bids To Fill India Void
CricInfo report that India’s tour to Zimbabwe, scheduled for June in the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, has been shelved indefinitely. According to the BCCI, the decision was by “mutual consent”, but given that as late as Monday (7th April) ZC were still stating that the tour was on, there’s speculation that ZC didn’t get much say in the decision.
It’s not much of a surprise, though - the tour conflicts with the inaugral IPL season, which meant that even if India had honoured the fixture, they would have been sending a second-string side at best. Unfortunately, this leaves Zimbabwe with a huge hole in their fixture list, with no competitive matches scheduled between the end of the Logan Cup in May and the scheduled visit of Sri Lanka in November.
CricInfo - India indefinitely postpone Zimbabwe tour
With my Ireland hat on, I can’t really compain too much about this one - the Sunday Mail reports that Ryan Ervine, younger brother of Sean, has signed for Irish side Carrickfergus, where he’s also been appointed assistant coach. According to the club,
“The club is also delighted to announce that we have secured the services of 19-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder, Ryan Ervine, for the 2008 season. Ryan, youngest brother of Zimbabwean international star, Sean, is Irish-qualified and will be hoping to impress Irish selectors during his time with Carrickfergus in the NCU Premier League. Ryan will work alongside Colin (Birch) as the club’s assistant professional/coach in the coming season.”
The statement that Ryan is hoping to impress Irish selectors would also indicate he’s turned his back on any possible career with Zimbabwe - although no doubt having been overlooked by Zim’s selectors despite good form recently helped make that decision a little easier.
Carrickfergus Cricket Club - Carrickfergus Signs Birch and Ervine for 2008
You’ll probably have heard the idea briefly floated by the UK Government last week, of banning all Zimbabwe sportsmen from the country. That now seems to have been knocked on the head (the idead of banning white sportsment like Cara Black and Nick Price didn’t seem to go down too well in some quarters), but the idea of selectively banning the cricket side is still being floated - although officially the Government will simply “support the ECB” in whatever decision they make. There now seem to be discussions ongoing with the ICC over what the ECB can get away with - but at the end of the week, the situation was essentially back where it started: the UK Government has made no decision, and the ECB cannot cancel Zimbabwe’s 2009 tour without consequence unless the Government intervenes. Drama over for another week.
Zimbabwe’s batsmen typically went all to pieces in their final Under-19 World Cup match in Johor on Saturday, giving Ireland 13th place in the tournament. Batting first after Ireland won the toss, only Reginald Nehonde (43) and Solomon Mire (12) reached double figures as Zimbabwe spluttered their way to 99/9 in an innings that was shortened by rain to 27 overs. Andrew Britton took 4/14 from 6 overs.
Ireland weren’t exactly stellar in reply, with only on of their 6 batsmen in passing 15, but that was more than enough given Zim’s woeful performance and the boys in green passed their target with 22 balls remaining. James Hall top-scored on 32, while Stewart Matsika took 2/14 from his 5 overs.
While there’s some promise in the Zim U19 side on the bowling front, the batting is a real cause for concern - the side has been nothing short of hopeless with the bat throughout the tournament. By all accounts, this has been a far weaker side than Zimbabwe could have fielded, with political and / or quota issues being the main cause of the problem. If Zimbabwe want to be able to field a side in future that has any hope of being competitive, such petty concerns really need to be put to one side - but somehow I doubt those in control are really paying attention. Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe U19 99/9 (27/27 overs; Nehonde 43, Britton 4/14), Ireland U19 100/4 (23.2/27 overs; Hall 32, Matsika 2/14). Ireland in by 6 wickets.
Continue reading ‘Irish Claim 13th in U19 World Cup as Zim Collapse Again’
Malaysia U19 may have scored one upset win against Zimbabwe’s youngsters, but there was no repeat in the first play-off for 13th-16th places in the competition - saving Zimbabwe from the humiliation of finishing last. Batting first, Zim scored 186/6 from 34 overs (match duration reduced do to rain), with Daniel Landman scoring a rapid-fire 45. Solomon Mire (36), Peter Moor (37) and Tinashe Chimbambo (28) also made decent contributions. For the Malaysians, Nik Azril Arifin took 2/23.
Zim’s bowlers, who have far outperformed the batsmen in this tournament, ripped through the Malaysian top order, leaving them in early trouble at 3/15 before Aminuddin Ramly put up a fight - he eventually scored 70, but with none of the Malaysian batsmen passing 10, it wasn’t a match-winning innings. The hosts were bowled out for 142. Edzai Jaure was the best of the Zim bowlers with 3/39, while Kyle Jarvis, Daniel Landman and Stewart Matsika took two each.
Zimbabwe now meet the winner of Ireland v Namibia to decide 13th & 14th places in the tournament. Full scorecard for this match is below the cut.
Zimbabwe U19 186/6 (39/39 overs; Landman 45, Nik Azril Arifin 2/23), Malaysia U19 142 (28.5/39 overs; Aminuddin Ramly 70, Jaure 3/39). Zimbabwe U19 win by 44 runs.
Continue reading ‘Zim U19 Extract Revenge on Malaysia’
They may not have qualified for the World Cup, but Zimbabwe’s women have put in a creditable performance in this tournament, securing 5th place after another convincing win over Scotland. Batting firs, Zimbabwe scored 236/6 from their 50 overs, with Yvonne Rainsford (69), Sinikiwe Mpofu (48) and Julia Chibhabha (48*) forming the backbone of the innings. For the Scots, Fiona Campbell took 2/44. Scotland were then skittled out for 75, with Julia Chibhabha taking 4/16 and Precious Marange 3/22 on the way to a convincing 161-run victory.
Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe 236/5 (50 overs; Rainsford 69, Campbell 2/44), Scotland 75 (32.5 overs; ‘Extras’ 27, Anderson 13, Chibhabha 4/16). Zimbabwe win by 161 runs.
Continue reading ‘Zimbabwe Women Finish 5th in World Cup Qualifiers’
Zimbabwe’s U19 side may have beaten Nepal in their warm-up match, but the Himalayan side extracted sweet revenge in when they met in the Plate Championship on Sunday. Having been put in to bat when Zimbabwe won the toss, Nepal posted 158 from 45.1 overs - not a great total, and one that should have been chasable. Puspa Thapa top-scored on 40, while Edzai Jaure and Stewart Matsika both took 3/34. In reply, Zimbabwe collapsed (as usual) to a platry 59 all out from 27.2 overs.
Zimbabwe now meet Malaysia on Tuesday (26th) as part of the play-offs for 13th-16th place in the competition, and Zim must now be facing the real possibility of finishing last in the competition.
Nepal U19 158 (45.1 overs; Thapa 40, Jaure 3/34), Zimbabwe U19 59 (27.2 overs; Chimbambo 20, Khadka 3/13. Nepal U19 win by 99 runs.
Continue reading ‘Nepal End Zim U19’s Trophy Hopes’
Zimbabwe’s Under-19’s had their last chance for glory against two-time champions Pakistan this morning- and they almost got there, too. Batting first, Pakistan were soon in trouble, at one point being on 4/21, but Ali Asad’s 71 not-out in the middle order save them from posting an embarassingly low score. As it was, Zimbabwe were able to pin the champs back to 173/8 from their 50 overs, a total which most teams would have had visions of chasing down. Kyle Jarvis took 3/40 and was the best of the Zim bowlers, who all told had a very good morning.
As has become depressingly routine in this competition, though, Zimbabwe’s batting went all to pieces against the far more experienced Pakistani attack. Justin Gaisford top-scored with a platry 18 as the side collapsed to 86 all out in 29 overs, leaving Zim without a win in the group stage and destined for the Plate competition, where they’ll meet Nepal - they managed to edge the Himalayan nation in the wamr-up matches, they’ll be hoping to pick up their first competitive win of the tourney.
Pakistan U19 173/8 (50 overs; Ali Asad 76*, Jarvis 3/40), Zimbabwe U19 86 (29 overs; Gaisford 18, Mohammad Rameez 3/26). Pakistan U19 win by 87 runs.
Continue reading ‘Zim U19’s Waste Opportunity Against Pakistan’
Zimbabwe’s women won’t be qualifying for the World Cup, or gaining Test status, after they lost their final group match to Ireland on Thursday (21st). Batting first, Ireland powered their way to 305/5 from their 50 overs, led by Isobel Joyce’s 70 (and 40 extras from Zimbabwe’s bowlers did no harm, either). The only Zimbabwean not to have a go with the ball was ‘keeper Nonthlanthla Nyathi - of the 10 that bowled, captain Julia Chibhabha was the most effective, with 2/40 off her 10 overs.
In reply, Zim were equally out of their depth - Emily Jinjik and Yvonne Rainsford top-scored on 14 each, as Zim were bowled out for 97 in 30 overs. The side now go on to the 5th-place playoffs, where they meet Bermuda on Friday - give the Caribbean side’s inept display against South Africa earlier in the tournament, this should be one match the women will be assured of winning… Scorecard below the cut.
Ireland 305/5 (50 overs; Joyce 70, Chibhabha 2/40), Zimbabwe 97 (Jinjika 14, Rainsford 14, Joyce 4/10). Ireland win by 208 runs.
Continue reading ‘Zim Women Miss Out on World Cup After Loss to Ireland’