ZIMBABWE cricket U-19 coach Prosper Utseya has urged his charges to be clinical following their loss to Sri-Lanka in their opening match of the U-19 World Cup in Kimberly, South Africa, on Sunday.
The Young Chevrons fell to a 39-run defeat via a Duck Worth Lewis Method after the match was interrupted by rain.Utseya’s boys were near clinical in the field claiming their first wicket as early as the first over, reducing Sri Lanka to 1/1 after skipper Matthew Schonken won the toss and elected to field inspired by the presents of a balance spin and pace options.
Zimbabwe restricted Sri Lanka to 204 all out inside 48.3 overs and facing a revised target of 129 in 22 overs were bundled all out for 89 runs in 21.1 overs.Utseya was happy with some positives in the defeat against the Islanders and challenged his charges to be more clinical in the next match. Zimbabwe face Australia U-19 on Thursday.
“It was disappointing to lose,” Utseya lamented.“I thought we had a good chance. However, there are some positives from the match, particularly in our bowling department.“The bowlers gave us a lot of chances. We need to keep the bowling intensity and try to capitalise on our opportunities. We missed out on a couple of chances; three runouts and two dropped catches. Next game we need to convert those.”
Added Utseya: “Our batting was probably our biggest letdown. We need to show more intent and not allow the opposition bowlers to dominate us.”Kohl Eksteen claimed the wicket of opener, Vishen Halambage for a three-ball duck who was caught behind by wicketkeeper, Ryan Kamwemba off the last ball of the first.Anesu Kamuriwo, the speedster from Manicaland clean bowled Pulindu Perera for three runs in the third over and Sri Lanka were struggling on 8/2 after 3.3 overs.Sri Lanka were three wickets down for 12 runs after 4.4 overs following the dismissal of Sineth Jayawardene, caught behind by Kamwemba off Eksteen for seven runs and reduced to 66/4 after 25.5 overs.
The Asian side recovered courtesy of Dinura Kalupahana’s half century, 60 which needed the engenuity of skipper, Schonken to be broken.Sri Lanka laboured to 204 all out inside 48.3 overs, Eksteen picking three wickets for 40 runs in 10 overs, Newman Nyamhuri picked two successive wickets in successive deliveries at death.
Schonken also took two wickets while Ryan Simbi and Panashe Taruvinga took one each.With the rains disturbing the flow of the match after a lengthy break, Zimbabwe were set a revised target of 129 runs from 22 overs.The locals choked against Sri Lankan spin to be bowled out for 89 runs in 21.1 overs.
Schonken top scored with 27 from 19 balls, Campbell Macmillan and Ronak Patel managed 12 runs apiece while opener, Nathaniel Hlabangana contributed 10 runs.
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