ZIMBABWE take their fighting spirit to the shorter version of the game after losing by nine wickets in the one-off Test cricket match against South Africa in Harare.
The hosts played South Africa in a one-off Test match at Harare Sports Club. The visitors took charge of the game in the first innings when they posted 397 runs (all out) in response to Zimbabwe’s 256 all out.
South Africa led by 141 runs into the second innings.
The hosts managed to post 181 runs leading by 40 runs.
The target was easy for South Africa as they claimed the series with an emphatic nine wicket victory.
Focus now shifts to the shorter version of the game where the Chevrons host the Proteas in three One Day Internationals starting this Sunday at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Elton Chigumbura will captain Zimbabwe as the captaincy was split.
Brendan Taylor was the captain for the longer version of the game.
Zimbabwe showed great fighting spirit in the Test match that impressed the captain.
Several positives can be drawn from the game.
John Nyumbu on his Test debut scooped five wickets, while Donald Tiripano who was also playing his first Test match did not disappoint.
Sunday’s ODI presents yet another chance for Steven Mangongo who is head coach of the Zimbabwe senior men’s team to justify his credentials.
Having gone through the mill, Mangongo is expected to lead the hosts into the driving seat.
All-rounder Chigumbura who resigned from captaincy in 2011 will need to psyche his lads ahead of the ODI against South Africa.
With the new responsibility, Chigumbura will need to lead by example on the crease and with the ball.
After the three ODIs, Australia will join the two and play in a triangular series at Harare Sports Club.
The first game of the Tri-series will be between the hosts and Australia in Harare on August 25 before the visitors South Africa and the Aussies clash two days later at the same venue.
Zimbabwe will then play the Proteas again on August 29.
There are six Tri-Series ODIs and each team will play one opponent twice before the final on September 6 at Harare Sports Club.
The last time Zimbabwe played Australia in an ODI was during a Group A match of the ICC World Cup in 2011 in India.
Australia won by 91 runs.
Zimbabwe’s last victory over Australia was in a T20 match in 2007.