Donald Tiripano was just thinking: Be positive

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Zimbabwe seamer Donald Tiripano was thinking ‘just be positive, nothing to fear’ after his last over heroics helped his country clinch a tie against the West Indies in an ODI in Bulawayo on Saturday.

A right-arm medium pace bowler, Tiripano bowled the last over of the 50-over contest with the Windies only requiring four runs for victory, but held his nerve and only conceded three runs.

The first ball of the over went for a single to deep cover, the second produced the wicket of Carlos Brathwaite while the third ball saw Tiripano effecting a run-out at the non-strikers end, the bowler deflecting the ball onto the stumps after it was fiercely hit back at him.

After a scrambled leg-bye the visitors needed two from two balls. Tiripano then saw a difficult catch dropped with the batsmen scampering a single which meant the scores were level.

Tiripano then beat Windies captain Jason Holder and wicketkeeper PJ Moor ran out Jonathan Carter at the striker’s end to spark wild celebrations.

The 29-year-old Tiripano said: “To me, it was my dream. I was talking to myself, saying. ‘This is the chance I’ve been waiting for since I was a little kid’. I grew up playing cricket in the streets.

“I was just thinking about that. Thinking ‘Just be positive. Nothing to fear. Just express yourself’. That positivity and that faith – I just thank God for this. It’s great for me. It’s something that many wish for in their lives, to save a match for their country. It’s a blessing.”

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