Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE men’s cricket team can crown a perfect week in Bulawayo this afternoon.
With the home crowd again expected to pour into Queens Sports Club, the Chevrons will chase a 3-0 whitewash over Namibia, a result that would underline their sharp upward curve ahead of next week’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier.
The hosts have already made history. Tuesday’s five-wicket victory, built on disciplined bowling that restricted Namibia to 169/9 and a composed chase to 170/5 inside 19 overs, secured their first ever T20 series win against their Southern African rivals.
It followed Monday’s opener where Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani struck sparkling half-centuries to lift Zimbabwe to 211/3 before the attack closed out a 33-run win.
Coach Justin Sammons has spoken all week of using this series as a confidence springboard.
Today’s game, even with the series sealed, has been treated like a final.
“This series win is a massive confidence booster for the Chevrons as they head into the continental tournament,” said team officials, pointing to improved rhythm with both bat and ball.
That next tournament begins in Harare on Thursday, September 26, when Zimbabwe open their Africa Qualifier campaign against Uganda. Group B also contains Botswana and Tanzania. Two teams from each pool will move to the semi-finals, with the winners earning tickets to the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. It is the ultimate prize that is shaping every plan inside the dressing room.
Bulawayo fans sense the stakes. Entry for today’s decider is free, and a packed house is expected. Players like Bennett, Marumani and experienced campaigners Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza know another fluent display will keep spirits high when the squad shifts to Harare.
“Momentum is everything in short format cricket,” one team insider noted. “Winning breeds the belief you need when qualification is on the line.”
Namibia, for their part, are desperate to salvage pride and prevent a sweep. Their power hitters threatened in both earlier games and they will again look to captain Gerhard Erasmus and all-rounder JJ Smit to spoil the party.
But Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani, have been consistent in choking key partnerships and will look to tighten their grip once more.
The white ball feast will not end when the men’s series is done. Next week the Lady Chevrons host the United Arab Emirates at the same venue in a contest of four One Day Internationals and two T20Is, beginning with a Wednesday warm up. For Bulawayo, it means a rare stretch of back-to-back international cricket and a chance to stay part of the country’s build up to global events.
By the time the first ball is bowled at 1.30pm today, the equation will be clear. One more strong performance can give Zimbabwe a spotless 3-0 record, extend a winning habit and carry a home crowd’s energy straight into the high stakes battles that will decide their place on the world stage.
