In a tournament expected to be drawn by very fine margins between teams, Day 2 of the World Cup qualifiers served up yet another spectacle of near misses and what ifs.
With Hong Kong flattering to deceive in their first game of the event by being rattled by the Scottish fast bowlers, PNG’s Tony Ura paying the faith of his coach and captain with his “one man army” knock against Ireland, the Windies lighting up the stands with their flare and power hitting, the game of the day was one of formidable foes in Zimbabwe against Afghanistan.
In a game that was potentially a quarterfinal with the winner stacking an early claim for a semifinal slot, the highly awaited clash lived up to the billing. Two teams in different spaces holding onto whatever positives were available besides the quality in personnel, Zimbabwe banking on home conditions, a “12th man” eager for success and importantly with momentum after a win in their previous game.
Afghanistan on the other hand would have banked on past record especially following the recent series in UAE which had them go into this game as favorites despite having lost their first game of the event.
Factors expected to thrive in this fixture were fact that these Zimbabwe players had never been in such a high pressure event whose down side effects not just change player wellbeing but even worse entire country’s cricket landscape unlike Afghanistan that rose through the pressures of the World Cricket League format until recently becoming the 12th test playing full member.
Second was which “X factor” player to stand up on the day a contest expected to have been between Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan and Sikandar Raza.
One a day that both teams found themselves on both extremes of batting, it’s a no brainer which team suffered the worse extreme of a batting collapse. At a time of smooth sailing and comfort with Afghanistan requiring 34 runs to win with 6 wickets in hand and 14 overs, they suffered an unforgettable twenty minute period started off by a defining over from Zimbabwe “Ace of Spades” Sikandar Raza whose formerly part time off spinners have graduated to a reliable option for Graeme Cremer.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man in Sikandar Raza he has been a very consistent performer for Zimbabwe both with bat and ball as he yet again delivered today.
As Zimbabwe hopes he can keep putting in the big performances, Afghanistan will be hoping results go their way to have an outside chance into the semifinals.
Sit back, get some corn to munch up on and enjoy the World Cup qualifier extravaganza.
