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Ervine‘s blade slays Black Caps

Soccer
Zimbabwe needed to add wrath to their game, they called upon a giant named Craig Ervine and they thrust him in the frontline of the battle armed with a blade in his left hand. He was brutal in the way he slayed New Zealand.

Zimbabwe 304 for 3 (Ervine 130*, Masakadza 84) beat New Zealand 303 for 4 (Taylor 112*, Williamson 97, Panyangara 2-50) by seven wickets.

Zimbabwe needed to add wrath to their game, they called upon a giant named Craig Ervine and they thrust him in the frontline of the battle armed with a blade in his left hand. He was brutal in the way he slayed New Zealand.

BY Kevin Mapasure

Usually a target of anything above 300 for Zimbabwe means the national cricket team is up for devouring but not yesterday and hopefully not anymore.

Zimbabwe won the first of three One day International (ODIs) against the Black Caps by seven wickets with six balls to spare, thanks to Ervine who anchored a run chase that was as thrilling as it was nerve wrecking.

Ervine at number three had been met with a bit of indignation but it proved to be the best decision that Dav Whatmore has made since he arrived in this country.

He did everything right, he spoke to the ball and it obeyed him and in the end he was unconquered on 130 runs, delivered from just 108 balls, a total that featured 11 boundaries and five mighty maximums.

Ervine came into his new role, probably under pressure, he had not managed at least a half century since he came back to play for Zimbabwe just before the World Cup and yet he had been rewarded with a central contract.

But after yesterday’s performance the contract was justified. When he arrived at the crease pressure had probably been eased by a strong opening stand of 74 between Hamilton Masakadza, who ended on 84 and Chamu Chibhabha with a knock of 42.

His combination of brutal force and finness was a marvel to watch for the appreciative crowd.

The last 10 overs were tense and Zimbabwe needed to shift a gear up in their batting and so they did as Ervine combined with Elton Chigumbura (26) Williams (seven not out) to guide the team to thier first win in this format since the one against United Arab Emirates at the World Cup.

The 304 was such a daunting target, it was easy to get carried away and swing at everything. But Zimbabwe were measured and meticulous in shot selection mixing steady accumulation with some occasional serious aggression.

Usually, for Zimbabwe, one wicket sparks a collapse but not yesterday. Masakadza was back among the runs and so too was his confidence.

With the win yesterday it was easy to forget how Zimbabwe’s bowlers had also been brutalised earlier in the day by the New Zealand batsmen, particularly centurion Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson who fell three runs short of his ton.

Zimbabwe won the toss and they needed a good start with the ball and that they got when Tinashe Panyangara and Chibhabha got rid of both openers Martin Guptil (11) and Tom Latham (14).

Guptill became the first wicket when he found Masakadza off a Tinashe Panyangara delivery.

Zimbabwe kept up the pressure and Chibhabha soon got some success when he dismantled Latham’s furniture to reduce the tourists to 39-2 in the first nine overs.

But New Zealand soon composed themselves and the pair of Williamson and Taylor built a 137 run partnership which ensured that the visitors put up a formidable total.

Panyangara broke that partnership when Williamson, on 97, succeeded to guide one on to his stumps to fall agonisingly short of his century.

It was a big wicket for Zimbabwe against an inform batsman who had been averaging 82 in the previous six innings. However he had already caused enough damage.

When Grant Elliot joined Taylor, it was more of the same as they plundered 79 runs with the former contributing 43 off just 32 balls before he was run out by Williams.

There was no denying Taylor his third century against Zimbabwe and a career 15th as he went on to remain unbeaten on 112 off 115 balls.

His ton featured five fours and two maximums.

New Zealand scored 115 runs in the last 10 overs and it looked like the game had slipped away for Zimbabwe.

But it was to be a different story this time as the hosts managed a professional job that will give them confidence and hopefully not complacency in the next game on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe will seek a better performance with the ball. Panyangara once again had the best figures with 2-50 from 10 overs with Mpofu struggling the most with 0-84 from 10 as well. Chibhabha finished with 1-32 from seven while Cremer had 0-48 from 10.

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