Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has said he will continue to back Wessly Madhevere after Australia scraped home by one wicket with a single delivery left, reaching their target after Zimbabwe had posted 271 for 8.
The match was settled in the closing overs. In the penultimate over Madhevere put down Nathan Ellis at deep midwicket, a chance that would have left Australia nine wickets down. Raza then gave Madhevere the final over, with Australia needing nine runs from six balls.
Ellis hit the first ball of that over for six and the chase was completed four deliveries later, leaving Zimbabwe a whisker away from a win.
Raza’s response
Raza said Madhevere had told him he was fit to bowl and that was enough for him. He promised to keep supporting the all-rounder until things go his way, adding that a team does not abandon a player when he is struggling.
The captain also admitted Zimbabwe had several opportunities to close out the game before the last over and did not take them.
Why Madhevere got the last over
According to Raza, the choice came down to match-ups and conditions. Ellis was on strike, and off-spinner Graeme Cremer would have been bowling into the wind towards the longer boundary. Raza felt those factors made Madhevere the better option for the final six balls.
Zimbabwe could not hold on, but Raza’s remarks made clear that his confidence in Madhevere is unchanged and that he sees tough moments as part of playing at this level.
