BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe Emerging coach Stephen Mangongo was a relieved man on Saturday after his side snatched a three-run victory to avoid a series whitewash against a very young South African side at Queens Sports Club.
Mangongo felt “proud” of the players, who produced an inspired bowling and fielding performance to seal a hard-fought win after South Africa Emerging bowled them out for 177 earlier.
“I’m very proud of the boys today (Saturday), they showed resilience,” Mangongo told SportsCast after the match.
“The basics of cricket is how you field, how you catch, and today they were on point. So proud of them, really proud.”
Holding an unassailable 2-0 series lead in the three-match one-day series, the visitors bowled first after losing the toss, with Andile Mogakane starring with the ball by taking 5-22 to restrict the hosts to 177.
Stand-in captain Modiri Litheko then hit 53 (52 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) to put the away side on course for a 3-0 series win, but Brandon Mavuta went on a rampage and grabbed 6-39 to send the South Africans tumbling to 174.
They slipped from 139 for five at one stage, allowing Zimbabwe Emerging to walk away with a consolatory win.
Mangongo was hugely impressed with the leg-spinner Mavuta, a player he has held in high regard since his teenage days.
“Brandon Mavuta’s bowling today was outstanding as he produced some epic deliveries, ripping through the rear-guard of the SA Emerging batting, taking the six wickets,” he said.
Pacer Alex Falao (3-51) was also outstanding in helping the Zimbabwean side defend the small total. The 20-year-old right-armer, alongside the team’s fielding, also received praise from Mangongo.
“Alex Falao bowled with exceptional discipline to hold one end and created pressure,” Mangongo said.
“It was a good hungry all-round performance in the fielding department, backed by disciplined bowling, which got us over the line.”
Zimbabwe Emerging players overjoyed with the three-run win. PIC: ZimCricket
Despite losing the limited overs series 2-1 and then two-match four-dayers 1-0, Mangongo identified some positives from the games.
“Young Emmanuel Bawa has definitely emerged from the series as a potential top-order, as he fronted up against Codi Yusuf, who bowled at rapid pace,” he said.
“Bawa was unfazed and knuckled down with good defence, backed by good shot selection. He anchored and withered the storm of genuine pace bowling and top scored with 60 today.
“The massive turning point today was the last wicket partnership between our enforcer Tashinga Musekiwa and last man Tapiwa Mufudza, of 64.
“Since the four-dayers, we have seen boys putting their hands up. Arinesto Vezha has been the outstanding seamer, as he troubled the South Africans. (Alistair) Frost with the bat has been reliable. Antum Naqvi showed that once he gets going, he can score big.
“Since the four-dayers, there has been steady progress in terms of top order gritty and tightening in techniques. We faced more than 100 overs in the second game compared to 69 in first game.”
But, of course, there were the low points too.
“The major weakness has been inability to convert various starts we had into three figure scores as batters,” remarked Mangongo.
“We also lacked genuine penetration as fast bowlers upfront, with key player Kuda Macheka breaking down.”
The former Zimbabwe senior side gaffer said the country’s fringe players must be exposed to more games of this magnitude.
“There is no substitute to playing high pressure international cricket, so we need to keep playing at these environments so that our standards improve.”
*Additional reporting by SuperSport.com
