Zimbabwe desperate to show worth

KOLKATA:

Zimbabwe are desperate to prove they belong with cricket’s big beasts as they wrap up their World Cup campaign against Kenya today.

Zimbabwe, who played their last Test match in 2005, want to start playing Tests again but have often looked out of their depth at the World Cup.

They have slumped against all four of the qualifiers from Group A with their only victory coming against Canada.

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura singled out poor batting as the reason for his team’s first-round exit.

“We have fielded well and bowled superbly, but it can’t be said about our batting. It was a big problem.”

Zimbabwe have managed only one total of more than 200 during the tournament, hitting 298 in their win against Canada. Zimbabwe’s English coach Alan Butcher has also pinpointed batting as the weak area.

“All the batsmen worked hard for this World Cup. Everyone is disappointed because we prepared well but couldn’t deliver,” said Butcher.

Tikolo to make last Cup appearance

Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande has said his team is keen to win today’s match against Zimbabwe for veteran Steve Tikolo, who will be making his last World Cup appearance.

“We call him ‘Gunnzie’ [one who bats like a gun],” said the Kenyan skipper.

“Tikolo is a legend. He is the man actually who made me play One-Day International (ODI) cricket and he is the one who made us qualify for the first time in the 1996 World Cup.

“Hopefully, we will send him off with a win in the World Cup.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2011.