Wessly Madhevere produced one of the most explosive innings of his career, scoring a breathtaking 116 off just 93 balls, but his heroics were not enough to prevent Zimbabwe 'A' from falling to an 85-run defeat against Bangladesh Emerging at Shahid Chandu Stadium on Monday.
Zimbabwe 'A' won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that looked questionable as Bangladesh Emerging posted a commanding 364 for 10 in their allotted overs. Zakir Hasan was the standout performer with the bat, anchoring the innings with a well-constructed 119, while Ifthakar Hossain Iftil added a valuable 70 to push the total beyond Zimbabwe's reach.
Ernest Masuku was the pick of the Zimbabwe 'A' bowlers, claiming three wickets for 70 runs in his 10 overs, with Antum Naqvi also chipping in with two wickets for 57 runs from nine overs.
Faced with a daunting target of 365, Zimbabwe 'A' needed something special, and Madhevere delivered exactly that. The right-hander came out swinging from the start, racing to 116 off 93 balls in an innings that had everything, power, timing and sheer determination. Matthew Campbell provided solid support with 52 off 57 balls as the pair gave Zimbabwe 'A' a genuine foothold in the chase.
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However, once the two key partnerships were broken, the innings lost its momentum. Bangladesh Emerging's bowlers Rohanat Doullah Borson and Samiun Basir Ratul each claimed three wickets for 72 and 52 runs respectively, dismantling the middle and lower order to bowl Zimbabwe 'A' out for 279 in 48.5 overs.
Madhevere's century will be remembered as a magnificent individual effort in a losing cause, but Zimbabwe 'A' will know they need a far more complete team performance when the two sides meet again in the second match on Wednesday June 10 at the same venue.
