Four memorable moments in Zimbabwe cricket history
July 18th, 2019 was a sad day in the history of Zimbabwe, as well as global cricket. The International Cricket Council, on, said date, suspended Zimbabwe cricket with immediate effect as it was in violation of Article 2.4(c) and 2.4 (d) of the ICC Constitution.
ICC's decision to suspend Zimbabwe has indeed been a difficult one to digest for cricket fans who have followed Zimbabwe's journey over the years. There have been several ups and downs in the African nation's cricket history. Zimbabwe played their first ever One-Day International in the 1983 World Cup and nine years later played their first Test against India in 1992.
Here is a look at four memorable cricket moments involving Zimbabwe which will be everlasting in the minds of cricket fans.
#4. First ever Test win
Zimbabwe's first ever Test win was indeed a special one. The win was their only one in their first thirty Tests. The opponent was a strong Pakistan outfit.
Batting first at the Harare Sports Club, the hosts toyed with the Pakistani bowlers and piled up a mammoth total of 544 runs for the loss of four wickets and declared the innings. The Flower brothers were amongst the runs with Grant Flower scoring an unbeaten 201 and Andy Flower scoring an impressive 156. Guy Whittall too scored an unbeaten century. The Pakistan bowling comprising Wasim Akram, Aaqib Javed and Kabir Khan had no success whatsoever against the hosts.
Heath Streak was the star for Zimbabwe when they got the visitors all out for 322 in their first innings and thereafter enforced the follow on. Streak picked up 6 wickets for 90 runs in 39 overs and was the most successful bowler.
The visitors were bundled out for just 158 in their second innings with Streak, Brain and Whittall picking up three wickets each. The Paksitani batting line up comprising Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Saleem Malik, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-Ul-Haq failed to score runs and Zimbabwe won their first ever Test by a margin of an innings and 64 runs.
History was created and it was indeed one unforgettable day for fans of Zimbabwe cricket.