Zimbabwe cricket team newcomers Tendai Chisoro, Wellington Masakadza and Luke Jongwe — who starred with the ball in the crushing eight wicket victory over visiting Afghanistan on Friday — are set to take centre-stage as the two teams clash in the second one-day international (ODI) at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo today.
By Munyaradzi Madzokere
The trio, with a combined total of 15 ODI caps, shared the 10 Afghanistan wickets two days ago to restrict the tourists to a paltry total of 122, with 22-year-old spinner Masakadza making his fourth senior appearance and becoming the pick of the crop with figures of 4 for 21.
Chisoro, a debutant in the previous encounter, and impressive young seamer Jongwe both shared an identical 3 for 16 final product and they will be looking to pick up where they left off in the first ODI encounter.
The Asians are currently in the country to play five ODIs and two T20 matches.
Coach Dav Whatmore is likely going to retain the team that put up a flawless display against the international cricket minnows from the subcontinent.
Whatmore, who is seemingly losing patience with the underperforming senior players, has already overseen the axing of Vusi Sibanda, Charles Coventry, Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya and lately Hamilton Masakadza, among others, in favour of the untried and untested, a move which is already paying dividends.
The changes in the team has seen the rise of potential top batters in the form of Richmond Mutumbami, who is now opening with the bat, Tino Mutombodzi and Brian Chari, who have been doing well on national duty lately. In-form batsman Chamu Chibhabha is expected to lead the batting line-up alongside other experienced batters in the form of Craig Ervine, captain Elton Chigumbura, Sikandar Raza Butt and Sean Williams, who missed the last match due to an injury.
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Zimbabwe will be looking to build on the 2-1 series win they recorded against Ireland last week to claim a 5-0 series whitewash over Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, who are visiting the country for the second consecutive year, are no push-overs as they came back from two matches down to level the series 2-2 when they visited last year.
