Masakadza urges Zimbabwe to apply themselves better

Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza has urged his team to apply themselves better after going down to a heavy defeat against Pakistan in the opening game of the T20I tri-series in Harare on Sunday.
The hosts had won the toss and elected to bowl first but conceded a total of 182/4 in their 20 overs before slumping to 108 all out to give the Asian side a comprehensive 74-run victory.
It was always going to be tough for Zimbabwe as they are without some of their best players due to a pay dispute with the board while a further blow was had in the field when seamer Kyle Jarvis suffered a suspected broken thumb.
Jarvis had bowled two overs for just nine runs in his opening spell before he left the field.
Masakadza said after the game: “Only bright point was winning the toss. We gave them 20 runs extra. It was not ideal that Jarvis went out injured as well.
“We started okay but we lost our way in the middle period. Our batting order was fine, but the execution was a problem.
“Just the first game of the series. We don’t need to make changes in the team yet, but we need to apply ourselves better at the top of the order.”
Zimbabwe’s next game in the tri-series is against Australia on Tuesday.
Latest
-
News
Jason Roy was never ready to ‘roll over’ despite year of setbacks and low points
Roy has for so long been England’s pacesetter at the top of the order but lost his place in the side.
-
News
England batter Jason Roy emotional after return to form in South Africa defeat
Roy’s slump with the bat led to him being dropped ahead of England’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign last year.
-
England
Jofra Archer will ‘get better and better’ but England batting needs more bite
Archer took one for 81 on a hot and sunny afternoon in Bloemfontein.
-
England
England beaten by South Africa in first ODI despite blistering Jason Roy century
Roy scored 113 off just 91 balls but South Africa ran out winners by 27 runs.
-
Women's Cricket
England reach Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup final after winning thriller
With Australia 96 for nine chasing 100, the England captain trapped Maggie Clark lbw to send her side through to face India in the final.
-
England
Jofra Archer toils for little reward as South Africa set England 299 to win ODI
Archer believes he is at about “80 per cent” fitness so some rust was inevitable.
-
Women's Cricket
Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa to have all-female match officials
Three match referees and 10 umpires will form the 13-strong team.
-
England
5 talking points as England turn attention to ODI format in a World Cup year
England have travelled to South Africa for three one-day internationals.
-
England
England captain Jos Buttler backs Jason Roy as the opener bids to find his form
Roy will open the innings alongside Dawid Malan as part of a new-look top-order in Friday’s first ODI against South Africa.
-
England
Jofra Archer set to make long-awaited England comeback against South Africa
There were minor alarms when the fast bowler was not seen at Bloemfontein’s Mangaung Oval on Thursday.