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Hamilton Masakadza

Paul Munyuki and Jonathan John Harare Bureau
THE fear factor is running through the Zimbabwe cricketers, after their recent huge defeats, as they plunge into another tough showdown against South Africa in the second game of their triangular at Harare Sports Club this morning.Zimbabwe’s top-order batsman, Hamilton Masakadza, revealed yesterday that morale was down in the team right now and they don’t expect any favours from a strong Proteas team that impressed the world with the way they chased down a huge target to beat world number one ODI side Australia on Wednesday.

A festive crowd, the majority of them backing the South Africans, cheered the Proteas as AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis powered their way to centuries for a great victory.

But, today, the locals will be backing their home heroes in what is another classic David versus Goliath showdown.

“Morale is a bit down because we haven’t done well in our last games but the guys are professionals who know what is expected from them,”

Masakadza, who impressed with a half century against the Aussies, said yesterday.

“In any professional sport if you are not doing your bit and performing then you obviously do not feel safe about your place so if you get out there and do your job that is the only way you can secure your place in the team.

“The top order is an area that we have been looking at as we have not performed well in the series (against South Africa) and the first game of the triangular series against Australia and the guys have worked hard and we have a performance around the corner because the guys believe and are backing themselves to get out and work for the team.”

Coach Steve Mangongo has come under pressure but, to be fair to him, he was always going to receive a baptism of fire given that his first assignments in charge of the team were against the world’s best Test side and the world’s best ODI side.

Mangongo has also been ruthless, in the way he has treated those whose performance levels have not been up to scratch, and the coach said the best way to impress him was for the players simply to perform.

“It’s a very straight forward scenario, if people do their jobs we will have a very straight forward line-up,” said Mangongo.

“But if we are not doing our jobs we examine and look at all possible means and personnel to work with until we get it right, that is why we have had the shifting and changing because we are not doing the job and until we get it right then we can settle.”

Having been hammered by both South Africa and Australia in their last few games, Zimbabwe are hoping to pick themselves up.

Mangongo said there is no reason to fear South Africa.

“We played them less than a week ago and we are comfortable we need to take care of our game and not to worry much about our opponents.
“Statistics don’t lie, we are 10 and they (South Africa) are three so it only means we have to work as hard as we can to narrow the gap as it is in our own hands and it’s definitely a process that is not going to happen overnight,” said Mangongo.