T20 World Cup 2016 first match will be played today at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur (India) between HK v Zim, Tuesday 8th March 2016. Zimbabwe would be upset with their overall disorganized effort, but they had enough runs to defeat Hong Kong thanks to Vusi Sibanda’s maiden T20I fifty and Elton Chigumbura’s daring finishing.
A daring Hong Kong chase might have easily pulled the carpet out from under them, but three run-outs hampered what could have been a more impressive total, along with careless bowling and fielding. Hong Kong’s innings was kept together by Jamie Atkinson’s career-best 53, but he had to contend with an ever-increasing required rate that shot up from a little under eight to over thirteen with five overs remaining.
Zimbabwe’s slower bowlers were having a hard time maintaining control, and Hong Kong was competitive right up until the very end, when the challenge became a bit too much. With stronger batting, Zimbabwe may have achieved a far more comprehensive outcome. Soft dismissals and a lack of partnerships were their problems, and it all began with their captain’s carelessness.
After giving himself an over to get his eye in, Hamilton Masakadza hit seamer Haseeb Amjad for two fours and a six. But after attempting a fast single, he failed to bring his foot down or his bat, bringing his innings to an absurd finish. Hamilton was caught short by a brilliant straight hit from Babar Hayat at mid-off. Sibanda picked up where Hamilton left off, having faced just one of the opening 14 balls.
But Richmond Mutumbami made a three-ball duck by holeing out to long-on. Tanwir Afzal, the captain of Hong Kong, detected Zimbabwe’s urgency on a muddy ground and slowed them down. Sean Williams was especially restless, tripping over his own cut as he continued to play. After Sibanda persisted on a second run, Sikandar Raza was run out in the next over, leaving Zimbabwe at 62 for 4 after 7.5 overs.
However, Sibanda buckled down and established a reliable alliance with Malcolm Waller. They exercised caution while facing seamer Aizaz Khan and Ryan Campbell, whose contributions were vital in preventing Zimbabwe from falling behind by a score that appeared to be approaching 170. After giving up just 38 runs in the following six overs, Sibanda hit left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed for a massive fifty off 40 balls.
Sibanda appeared to be letting go, but his collaboration with Waller came to an abrupt end. In an attempt to cross the border, Waller offered a present to the sweeper cover. Following this, Sibanda and Donald Tiripano were fired. With three wickets in eight balls, Hong Kong caused Zimbabwe to falter once again. But Elton Chigumbura got started early. He smacked 30 from 13 balls, hitting the ball neatly and down the ground to push Zimbabwe over 150.
After Hong Kong put up a strong fight, Chigumbura’s cameo proved to be the difference in the end. In the pursuit, Campbell and Atkinson dragged their feet against the discipline of Zimbabwe’s seamen. When Campbell struck Tiripano squarely in the middle of the bat, the slow-burn strategy backfired. If Sibanda had made a different decision after catching Wellington Masakadza at deep midwicket, Atkinson may have been out of the game one over later, on over 10.
When Wellington managed to catch Babar Hayat in front, he was rewarded, but his happiness was fleeting. Mark Chapman assaulted him and pursued Raza as well. However, Sibanda’s comeback gave the all-rounder the final laugh when Chapman struck him to deep midwicket. But Atkinson continued, scoring his first T20I half-century with a crunch down the ground off Tendai Chatara in only 41 balls.
Hong Kong would have believed they had a chance, even if they required 53 off the final four overs. To cap it all, Zimbabwe got back its seamen. After tricking Atkinson with a slower ball that he smacked to long-on, Tiripano rewarded his skipper. However, a double-strike from Chatara in the last round was the only way to adequately neutralize the danger posed by Hong Kong. His beamer of a hat-trick ball went for four, demonstrating Zimbabwe’s careless play. They won handily, but they will be aware that they must tighten up in order to maintain their lead over the others.
Hong Kong win the toss and choose to bowl.
Zimbabwe team
H Masakadza*, V Sibanda, R Mutumbami†, SC Williams, MN Waller,Sikandar Raza, E Chigumbura, DT Tiripano, T Panyangara, WP Masakadza, TL Chatara
Hong Kong team
JJ Atkinson†, RJ Campbell, Babar Hayat, MS Chapman, Anshuman Rath, Nizakat Khan, KD Shah, Tanwir Afzal*, Aizaz Khan, Haseeb Amjad, Nadeem Ahmed
Pitch and weather report
Usually dry and cracked, the surface at the Jamtha Stadium is likely to be slow and low and could take the turn. It’s set to be a scorcher in Nagpur, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees.
