Zimbabwe take on Hong Kong in the opening game of the T20 World Cup at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha in Nagpur.
Advertisement
Skipper Tanwir Afzal chipped in with a breezy unbeaten 31 but Zimbabwe’s bowlers sent down a tidy last two overs.
Hong Kong captain Tanwir Afzal said that his young side were well prepared and excited about facing Zimbabwe.
Vusi Sibanda’s knock of 59 was the mainstay during Zimbabwe’s innings of 158-8, before Donald Tiripano and Tendai Chatara took two wickets apiece in Hong Kong’s reply which fell 15 runs short.
Although Richardson also did not refer directly to Hong Kong in his press conference, he effectively confirmed that that was the team under investigation by Flanagan’s unit.
Hong Kong will hope that Zimbabwe will not be as tough as UAE and Afghanistan were on them, but Zimbabwe will be keen to put their foot on Hong Kong’s throat and get their campaign off to a winning start.
Afghanistan later posted 170-5 at the same venue and dished out some impressive death bowling to restrict Scotland to 156-5 as they won their Group B clash.
Had it not been for Chigumbura, Hong Kong may have had a shot in this game but they were guilty of not zoning in when it was needed most.
According to me Zimbabwe is going to win the match because they have experienced and strong team than the Hong Kong. His 59 off 46 balls included five fours and two sixes and gave his side that extra edge.
A six brought up his half-century en route to his highest score in the shortened format.
However, opener Vusi Sibanda along with Malcolm Waller saved their team from total collapse adding 61 for the fifth wicket before both were dismissed quickly.
Despite losing Wellington Masakadza (2), Elton Chigumbura (30 not out) hit three sixes to boost Zimbabwe’s total to 158 for eight in 20 overs.
Masakadza set out for a single that looked safe until he failed to plant his bat and drag it. There is no deninying fact that HK has been played in big matches.
Advertisement
Forty-four-year-old Ryan Campbell became the oldest debutant in T20 internationals as Hong Kong chose to chase in the World T20 opener in Nagpur.
