Zimbabwe faces possible embarrassment of a one day international (ODI) series defeat against Bangladesh when they play the second match at Queens Sports Club today.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
The hosts put up a pathetic display especially with the bat and succumbed to a 121-run defeat in the first ODI on Friday to put themselves under-pressure ahead of today’s match.
A win for Bangladesh today would see the tourists wrapping up the series and rendering the last match a dead rubber.
Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo says there would be no excuse if they should lose the series as they are their own enemies.
“We are playing at home where we are familiar with the conditions.
There is a good batting wicket at Queens and there is no reason why we should not win,” said Mangongo.
“It was very disappointing to lose the first match and now the pressure is on us. Tomorrow (today) is a new day, a new game and we start at zero with Bangladesh so we have to win at all costs.
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We do not want to turn the third match into a dead rubber. We still have problems with our top-order but we just have to be patient on that.”
With the bowlers lacking discipline on Friday by conceding 32 extras, Zimbabwe will also have to improve their batting where they allowed seamer Ziaur Rahman romp to a five-wicket haul.
Sikandar Raza and Regis Chakabva went out for a combined four runs in a top-order crumble as they left wide gaps between bat and pad leading to their dismissal.
However, convincing was Shingi Masakadza who is slowly establishing himself into an all-rounder after claiming four wickets and hitting 33 off as many balls while packed at the tail.
“I have always had confidence in Shingi,” Mangongo said.
“He is our new all-rounder and putting pressure Elton Chigumbura who has been the only all-rounder in the team. Shingi has proved his critics wrong because when we selected him no one gave him a chance.”
