Zimbabwe rout Afghanistan. Makhosini magic at play?

Zimbabwe recorded an emphatic 122-run victory over Afghanistan on Saturday in the third one day international in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The result comes on the back of a demand for answers by Sport and Recreation minister Makhosini Hlongwane for answers after the national side’s dismal form which saw them lose six games in a row to the war-torn associate nation.

This culminated in a meeting and boy did the Chevrons respond.

Zimbabwe were 49-7 when Graeme Cremer joined Hamilton Masakadza and it looked like another disaster. The pair then put on 104 to drive the Chevrons past 150 in a stand that is the fifth best of all time (third best by a Zimbabwean ODI team). In that Cremer scored the 16th best score (58) by a number 9 batsman.

The returning made the most of the absence of Craig Ervine as he scored 83. He was the last man out as Zimbabwe finished on 175 all out.

Zimbabwe got the perfect start as Neville Madziva grabbed two wickets in as many balls in the first over. Tendai Chisoro got in on the act two overs later removing Ashgar Shanitzai and the in-form Mohammad Shahzad for 31.

It was then time for the Luke Jongwe show has he picked off the five of the last six wickets for just 6 runs in his 5,1 overs to leave Afghanistan 58 all out. They were all out for just 16.1 overs.

It is quite a result given how poorly Zimbabwe have played of late.

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We really wonder what Makhosini said. Some sources say he said if the team did not win 4 of the last 5 matches against Afghanitsan he would come down hard on the board, disband it even.

We hope this is not a flash in the pan and we lose again.

There was fight. That is all you can ask for.

Player of the match: Hamilton Masakadza