Having lost the ODI series 3-0 and trailing the two-T20 series against India 0-1, Zimbabwe pacer Chris Mpofu has said that his team is set to give it all in the second and final Twenty20 International on Sunday, as they have nothing to lose.
After four straight losses during India’s visit, Zimbabwe can only hope for a consolation win in Sunday’s match.
“(Victories) are going to come as time goes on. It’s hard when you’re losing, but there are a lot of positives that we can take out of the game. I think we’ll get there. It’s frustrating for the supporters but I think we’ll get there.
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“For us going to the last match we have nothing to lose, so if we can go out and express ourselves. Not many people will expect us to win, but if we go out there with the attitude that we have everything to gain I think we will come out with a victory,” said Mpofu in Harare on Friday after losing the first T20I against India by 54 runs.
Mpofu, who stood out with figures of three for 33 last night notwithstanding in a losing cause, said it was the best time of his career.
“I think it’s the best time of my career. I’m enjoying cricket more than before. I think it’s the things I’ve changed in my life — I’ve turned into more of a religious person and there are a lot of things that I’ve cut out. I’ll tell you right now that I’m enjoying the game more than ever,” he said.
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Mpofu said some valuable advice by the Indians players helped him a lot.
“Some of these guys are my heroes, I’ve watched them playing in India and I’ve asked them a few things about when they play IPL. They said that you can’t just be predictable and try and bowl length,” Mpofu said.
“No matter how quick you are, you have to be a step ahead of them. So I tried to mix my pace and back my skills up, because at the end of the day if I get hit trying to do my skills I’m not worried about that. I’m just trying to make what I do in the nets work in the game. Thank God it worked my way today,” he revealed.
Mpofu’s three dismissals, which came after the 15th over, helped to the hosts hold India back when they were cruising smoothly on 123 for two with five overs remaining.
“At the end of the day we pulled it back, especially at the death. With the fire-power that we’ve got I thought we did quite well because at one stage I thought they could have got to 200,” he said.