2023 CWC Updates!! It was so close, yet so far for the Zimbabwe side. Backed by a vociferous home crowd that egged them on constantly, it always felt like they were playing with 12 men in the pitch. However, they were unable to hold their nerve in the most crucial stages of the World Cup qualifier tournament, and their loss against Scotland has officially ended their World Cup dream.
But despite the heartbreaks, they will be mighty proud of the way they played in this tournament as well as the quality of cricket that they displayed in toppling the likes of the West Indies en route to the Super Sixes. While it was a team effort right from the beginning, these 5 guys in particular have been the chief contributors in Zimbabwe’s upturn in cricketing fortunes.
Let us have a look at these 5 guys who performed brilliantly in this tournament
1. Sikandar Raza
Any list of Zimbabwe’s top performers are incomplete without Raza and this list is the same as well. Raza has always been Zimbabwe’s man Friday in different situations whether it is with the bat or the ball. His stunning 100 vs Netherlands that made him the fastest Zimbabwean to reach that milestone, or the 68 he scored against the West Indies to rescue then from a seemingly perilous position.
His performances with the ball have also lent them a sense of control to tighten things in the middle. It’s a huge shame that Zimbabwe could not make the World Cup, because if there was anyone in that side who deserves to be in the mega event, it was Raza.
2. Sean Williams
If Raza was the glue for Zimbabwe, Sean Williams was the rock that held things together for them from the number 4 position. And what a memorable tournament did he have. 600 runs in 7 games, a average of 100, complete with 3 hundreds and 2 fifties with a highest score of 174, Williams had an absolute run glut, with bowlers literally unable to get the better of him the moment he set foot on the pitch. Just like Raza, this was potentially Williams’ last shot at playing in a World Cup, but what a lasting impression he’s left in what could be his swansong in all intents and purposes.
3. Craig Ervine
The Zimbabwe skipper led from the front through the tournament and his sharp mind and captaincy were the reasons why they came so far in the tournament. He also had a decent tournament with the bat as well, scoring 259 runs in 6 games with a century against Nepal and a 50 vs Netherlands. Together with Raza and Williams, this was Ervine’s final opportunity to play in a World Cup proper which went away from them. But a great tournament nevertheless.
4. Richard Ngarava
Ngarava was Zimbabwe’s leading bowler in this tournament, leading the wicket taking charts for his side with 14 wickets at an insanely brilliant economy rate of just 4.73, which almost 0.5 lesser than Wanindu Hasaranga, who is the leading wicket taker in the qualifier tournament. His bowling was one of the many reasons that Zimbabwe managed to tighten the grip on proceedings just when the opposition seemed to have a grasp of the game and we’re beginning to take control of proceedings. The 25-year-old is getting better with every passing game, and if he keeps bowling the way he did in this tournament, sky is the limit for him.
5. Blessing Muzarabani
The towering pacer is their pace spearhead, with his very rare blend of height, reach, and genuine pace making him a very difficult and dangerous proposition to face off against. His height also helps him to get that extra bit of bounce that can hurry even some of the most accomplished batsmen in world cricket. At 26, even he has a great future in store for him if he manages to keep himself fit and bowls the way he does. Him and Ngarava can lay down the foundation of a very potent Zimbabwe pace attack in the years to come if they are managed properly.
