6 things we’ve learnt from Zimbabwe’s first warm-up match at the T20 World Cup

Zimbabwe have played their first warm-up match at the T20 World Cup, in which they fell to a 33-run loss against Sri Lanka at the MCG on Tuesday.

The match between the two sides was moved from Monday after the Southern African side changed its travel plans.

The Asia Cup 2022 champions posted a daunting score of 188 for the loss of five wickets after being put in to bat. Kusal Mendis led with 54, while Wanudu Hasaranga had an aggressive 37, unbeaten, at the back end.

Zimbabwe had a good start and were 54 for the loss of one wicket at the end of the power play, but fell well short in the end. They could only make 155 for the loss of five wickets.

So here are the six things we learnt from Zimbabwe’s first warm-up match

Pace is a bit off

Zimbabwe’s pace bowlers struggled. In effect, Blessing Muzarabani similarly found himself challened in the format and got hit for plenty in the Qualifier in Bulawayo. But he was not the only one. Brad Evans was the one seamer not to go for double digit economy. Tendai Chatara bowled well to concede five in an over up-top but went for 18 in his second at the death. New bowling coach Steve Kirby has his work cut out.

Not enough boundaries

Zimbabwe had 14 boundaries and no sixes in their innings. That meant the highest strike rate was Tony Munyonga at 171.42 for his 12 and 153.33 from Craig Ervine for his 23. With boundary balls at a premium, it meant the average team strike rate was 129, which, on that pitch, was simply below par. Sri Lanka on the other hand had 21 fours and five sixes. That is what makes the difference at this level.

Too many dots

Zimbabwe conceded an eye-popping 41 dot balls. Particularly guilty was Wessly Madhevere, who although scoring 43, he did it off 42 balls. 12 of those runs were were boundaries, which means he really was struggling to get going. One will point to Sri Lanka conceding 40 dot balls, but then can be covered up with some big hitting. If you can’t hit big, then you rotate the strike. If Zimbabwe had taken 10 twos and 11 singles (21 balls), then suddenly that score is closer, as in 31 runs and you give yourself a chance.

The Sikandar Raza weakness

Three times on the recent tour of Australia, the home team targeted Raza with the short ball from which he would find someone in the deep after pulling. We are not sure what can be done about this at the stage because the ball is there to be hit. And with batting coach Lance Klusener having suddenly stepped down, it is not clear how that will be fixed for when the competition starts on Monday. Batters will target him there.

The spin attack

Much like in the ODI series against Australia, this part has shone and all but one of the wickets was taken by this department. They seem to have an ability to strangle sides and get breakthroughs. Wellington Masakadza is a worry as he has not bowled well in a while.

The caveat

With Zimbabwe having arrived 36 hours before this match, it could be down to acclimatising (jetlag et al) and the hope is that they will find sharpness by the time Monday’s game against Ireland comes. Again, this was against the Asia Cup 2022 champions. There is a concern after Wessly Madhevere retired injured. Until we know what is happening there, that is as much as we can comment on it.