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Haphazard Zimbabwe face must-win situation
- Updated: November 20, 2016
Match facts
Monday, 21 November Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)
Big Picture
In cricket, ‘momentum’ is a lot like religious faith. Some people believe in it, and some don’t, but either way it seems to be part of the general milieu. Another way of putting it could be: whether you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you’re probably right. Sri Lanka’s momentum will have been dented slightly by their unravelling against West Indies in Harare, and Zimbabwe will believe in themselves a little more after their stunning comeback.
Neither team is without its worries: Sri Lanka’s inexperienced middle order has not quite clicked yet, while Zimbabwe slipped from 190 for 3 to 257 all-out against West Indies. Their performance in the field was also not quite up to scratch, and in that department coach Heath Streak has said: “we know we’re better than what we showed.” The result of this game will depend on which team plays to potential and seizes the momentum, and who has more belief on the day. With Zimbabwe currently at the bottom of the points table, with two points from their tie, this is a must-win game for them.
The background hum outside of the cricket in Zimbabwe is somewhat depressed, and an upturn in the cricket team’s fortunes would help to brighten what could be a somber festive season. The country is on the brink of introducing ‘Bond notes’, a form of currency meant to ease the crippling cash liquidity crisis, but not everyone is for it. While the cricket has been going on, activists have been arrested and allegedly assaulted by security forces in Harare, and some fans entering Queens Sports Club on Saturday weren’t …
