HARARE —
The Zimbabwe cricket team on Wednesday afternoon bounced back into contention for a place in the Super 10 stage of the Twenty20 World Cup.
The team, which was on the verge of elimination following a three wicket defeat on the opening day by Ireland, beat the Netherlands by five wickets to bounce back into contention for that vital place in the tournament that starts in Bangladesh on Friday.
The Zimbabweans, though, needed a final delivery from Vusi Sibanda with the last ball to end on 146 for five after the Netherlands had finished on 140 for five after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Captain Brendan Taylor was in super form as he hit 49 runs and was well complimented by Hamilton Masakadza who plundered 43 runs with Sean Williams also impressive on 26.
The Zimbabwean team will need a bit of luck to make it through to the next stage hoping that Ireland suffer a dramatic collapse at the hands of the Netherlands on the last day of play and they win heavily against minnows, the United Arab Emirates.
Zimbabwe has one win, the Netherlands have won one, but Ireland were expected to remain top of the table as they were facing little UAE in the other match of Group Two later in the day.
But one of the Zimbabwean fans, Joseph Kawondera, thinks Zimbabwe is still with a chance as a game or a tournament is not over until it is really over.
The Zimbabwean team faced a lot of hurdles on their way to the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers, including only two weeks of training after going on strike due to non-payment of bonuses.
But still assistant coach Steve Mangongo is hoping that the team will put that aside and qualify for the Super 10 stage where the best cricket teams in the world will play.
From the outset, though, Zimbabwe's chances look slim after that Ireland defeat.
The team, which was on the verge of elimination following a three wicket defeat on the opening day by Ireland, beat the Netherlands by five wickets to bounce back into contention for that vital place in the tournament that starts in Bangladesh on Friday.
The Zimbabweans, though, needed a final delivery from Vusi Sibanda with the last ball to end on 146 for five after the Netherlands had finished on 140 for five after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Captain Brendan Taylor was in super form as he hit 49 runs and was well complimented by Hamilton Masakadza who plundered 43 runs with Sean Williams also impressive on 26.
The Zimbabwean team will need a bit of luck to make it through to the next stage hoping that Ireland suffer a dramatic collapse at the hands of the Netherlands on the last day of play and they win heavily against minnows, the United Arab Emirates.
Zimbabwe has one win, the Netherlands have won one, but Ireland were expected to remain top of the table as they were facing little UAE in the other match of Group Two later in the day.
But one of the Zimbabwean fans, Joseph Kawondera, thinks Zimbabwe is still with a chance as a game or a tournament is not over until it is really over.
The Zimbabwean team faced a lot of hurdles on their way to the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers, including only two weeks of training after going on strike due to non-payment of bonuses.
But still assistant coach Steve Mangongo is hoping that the team will put that aside and qualify for the Super 10 stage where the best cricket teams in the world will play.
From the outset, though, Zimbabwe's chances look slim after that Ireland defeat.