Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub

ZIMBABWE wrapped up their ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup warm-up games with a rather underwhelming 114-run defeat to New Zealand at Masvingo Sports Club yesterday.

The defeat should give the hosts and their gaffer Elton Chigumbura plenty to ponder over as the match showed the gulf that still exists between the two nations.

Zimbabwe’s bowling was not up to standard while batting continued to underwhelm days before the World Cup begins.

The hosts won the toss and elected to field, after which things soon turned sour as New Zealand put up 332 runs all out during their allotted 50 overs.

Opener Hugo Bogue was the chief tormentor as his 115 runs off 75 balls gave the Kiwis the ideal platform for a big score.

His innings featured 13 boundaries and seven maximums as New Zealand went about their business in a brisk manner, probably paying attention to the possibility of the rains.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers toiled all morning as wickets were hard to come by.

As a slight positive, they did manage to bowl out their opponents, with Shelton Mazvitorera the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with three wickets for 56 runs.

Unfortunately, the damage had already been done as New Zealand gave the hosts a target of 333 runs for victory.

Zimbabwe did not get off to the best of starts during their run chase as their top order fell fast and rather cheaply.

Openers Kupakwashe Muradzi and Dhruv Patel hardly put a dent on the target as the duo could only muster 29 runs off 30 balls for the first-wicket.

Patel did not last long as he was caught behind by Aryann Mann off the bowling of Hunter Shore three overs later for his 15 runs off 20 balls.

Zimbabwe lost three more wickets and soon found themselves reeling at 105 runs for five.

Kian Blignaut fell cheaply when he was Samson’s second wicket of the day when he was caught by Matzpolous for his six runs off 14 balls while the duo of skipper Mudzengerere and Takudzwa Makoni failed to capitalise on their good starts.

Makoni was trapped leg-before-wicket by Harry Burns to finish on 14 runs off 16 balls, while the skipper was caught and bowled by Luke Harrison for 23 runs off 38 balls.

Chiwaula and Sinzere tried to stabilise the innings with a seventh-wicket stand of 48 runs off 50 balls.

This left Zimbabwe staring at defeat at 186 for seven.

It was downhill for the hosts after that, as they could only add 32 more runs before they were bowled out for 218 runs.

Senzere was left stranded with an unbeaten 66 runs off 83 balls to finish as Zimbabwe’s top scorer.

Burns finished as the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with three wickets for 43 runs, while Samson chipped in with two for 15 runs.

Sanjay, Shore, Luke Harrison, Snehith Reddy and Jacob Cotter each claimed a wicket. With the ICC Under-19 World Cup warm-up games done and dusted, attention now shifts to the actual tournament.

Zimbabwe kick off their World Cup campaign on Thursday when they face Scotland at Takashinga Sports Club, while New Zealand play the US of America on Sunday.